 And outside Africa, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky paid tribute to the country's first independent leader who died on Tuesday, May the 10th at the age of 88, a former communist who helped sign the Soviet Union debt warrant and then served as the first president of independent Ukraine. The Ukrainian president confirmed his country's forces have successfully launched a counteroffensive that is pushing Russia's troops out of the region of Kharkiv. The counterattack could sign a signal new phase in a war with Ukraine going on the offensive after weeks in which Russia mounted massive assault without making a breakthrough.