Day 474 of the Invasion of Ukraine: Kyiv reported First Successes in its Counteroffensive

Day 474 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

• Ukraine reported first successes in its counteroffensive
• Christo Grozev: Ukraine can get Crimea back before Donbas
• Chechen forces signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense
• Ecologist from Odesa: Chemicals leak into the Black Sea, the water carries islands of garbage
• An international court will investigate the destruction of the Kakhovka dam wall
• Russians loot flooded villages in Kherson Oblast

Ukraine reported first successes in its counteroffensive

Ukraine has reported initial successes in its counteroffensive against Russian forces that began a week ago. According to the information, three villages in the south-eastern part of the country have been liberated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that an International Criminal Court investigation has begun into the destruction of the wall of the Kakhovka dam, which caused a massive flood.

Footage on social media showed Ukrainian soldiers celebrating in the villages of Blagodatnoe and Neskuchnoe in the Donetsk region. Kyiv's deputy defense minister said the nearby village of Makarovka had also been captured.

So far, there is no official comment from the Russian side. For several days, the Russian army has claimed to be repelling Ukrainian attacks in the region. On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the counteroffensive had begun.

Meanwhile, Ukraine claims Russia blew up another dam in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast after the main Nova Kakhovka dam collapsed on Monday, causing massive...