KIEV, June 4 – Ukrainian companies have challenged in Britain the lawfulness of the sale of about 50% of Zaporizhstal steel mill, as a result of which a court in London has frozen the stocks, President Viktor Yanukovych said.

"There is a dispute between two Ukrainian companies on about 50% of the stocks in Zaporizhia (Zaporizhstal). The stockholding has been frozen under a ruling of a London court," he said at a press conference in Kiev on Friday.

"As far as I know it won't be sold for about a year," he said, stressing once more that two Ukrainian companies are involved in the litigation.