INTERNATIONAL: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy paid tribute to the country's first independent leader, Leonid Kravchuk. who died on Tuesday (May 10) at the age of 88.

Kravchuk was a former communist who helped signed the Soviet Union's death warrant and then served as the first president of independent Ukraine.

''He wasn’t just a politician and even not just a historical figure. He was the kind of man who could find wise words and say them so that all Ukrainians could hear them," said Zelenskiy.

The Ukrainian president confirmed his country's forces have successfully launched a counter-offensive that is pushing Russian troops out of the region of Kharkiv.

The counterattack could signal a new phase in the war, with Ukraine now going on the offensive after weeks in which Russia mounted a massive assault without making a breakthrough.

''The Armed Forces of our State have provided good news from the Kharkiv region to all of us. The occupiers are gradually being pushed out of Kharkiv. I am grateful to all our defenders, who are holding the line and showing truly superhuman strength to drive out the army of invaders. Once the second strongest army in the world.'' said Zelenskiy.