Oct 14 (Reuters) - Russian-backed forces have made some advances in eastern Ukraine, Britain said on Friday, even as Moscow's hold weakens in the south, where a Russian-installed official has advised residents to flee a region Russia claims to have annexed.

FIGHTING

* Russian-backed forces have made tactical advances in the last three days towards the centre of Bakhmut, a strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region, and likely advanced into villages south of the town, Britain said.

* A Russian region adjoining Ukraine said it was preparing to receive refugees from the Russian-held part of Kherson.

* A Ukrainian official urged citizens of the Kherson region to head to Ukraine-controlled territory, saying those who chose to move to Russia were collaborators.

* Ukraine's armed forces have re-taken more than 600 settlements in the past month, including 75 in the strategic Kherson region, the government said.

* Damage to the bridge between the annexed Crimean peninsula and southern Russia won't be repaired until next summer, a document published on the Russian government's website said, after an explosion last week.

* The governor of a Russian border region accused Ukraine of shelling an apartment block but a Kyiv official said a stray Russian missile was to blame - one of a series of apparent strikes on Russian towns.

* Reuters was not able to verify battlefield reports.

* NATO said it will closely monitor an expected Russian nuclear exercise but will not be cowed into dropping support for Ukraine.

DIPLOMACY

* Elon Musk said SpaceX cannot "indefinitely" fund the Starlink internet service in Ukraine after a report suggested his rocket company had asked the Pentagon to help fund the service in the country.

* Kremlin spokesperson Peskov was quoted as saying in Izvestia newspaper that the goals of Russia's "special military operation" could be achieved through negotiations.

ECONOMY

* French food company Danone announced plans to shed its dairy and plant-based food business in Russia in a transaction which could result in a up to 1 billion euro ($978.10 million) write-off.

* Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the energy ministry to work on building a gas hub in Turkey following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the issue.

* Russia has submitted concerns to the United Nations about an agreement on Black Sea grain exports, and is prepared to reject renewing a deal next month unless its demands are addressed, Russia's U.N. ambassador in Geneva told Reuters.

* Russian President Putin courted Turkish President Erdogan with a plan to pump more Russian gas via Turkey that would turn it into a new supply "hub", bidding to preserve Russia's energy leverage over Europe. (Compiled by Frank Jack Daniel)