The Deputy Head of the Kherson Occupation Administration, Kirill Stremousov, again called residents to leave the region on Friday, October 14, citing “humanitarian journeys of rest and recuperation” in neighboring Russian regions, while a Ukrainian counter-offensive is underway in the region. On the outskirts of Bakhmout, Russian and separatist forces say they are in a good position to retake this city in the Donetsk region. Franceinfo takes stock of the day’s news on the frontline of the war in Ukraine.
Putin does not “immediately” plan new massive strikes
Vladimir Putin took part in two summits with former Soviet republics in Kazakhstan on Friday. The Russian leader assured not to plan to expand the mobilization “partial” announced three weeks ago, adding that 222,000 men had been recruited so far. During a press conference, he said he expected the end of the mobilization “in two weeks” and admitted that it had had some hiccups.
The head of the Kremlin has also said that he does not plan “immediately” new strikes “massive” in Ukraine, after those that targeted several cities at the start of the week. “Currently, there are other objectives. For the moment. Afterwards we will see”said Vladimir Putin, assuring that he was not aiming “to destroy Ukraine”. Russia takes action “properly” in Ukraine, he finally welcomed after about eight months of war.
Ukraine pays tribute to its soldiers
Friday was Defenders Day in Ukraine, an army holiday celebrated for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion. “We thank (…) all those who fought for Ukraine in the past and all those who fight for it now, those who won then and those who will undoubtedly win now”Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video.
The leader also laid a wreath at a kyiv war memorial. On the occasion of the commemorations, the portraits of some 180 soldiers were erected on the square in front of the famous Saint Sophia Cathedral in kyiv. All were killed in Mariupol.
Eight months to rebuild the Crimean Bridge
Russia announced on Friday that it was giving itself until July 1, 2023, eight months, to rebuild the Crimean bridge, partially destroyed in an attack that Moscow attributes to Ukraine. kyiv has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in this attack carried out, according to the Russians, with a truck bomb.
Two road sections of the viaduct collapsed into the sea. The railway suffered a huge fire after tank cars caught fire. Russia has partially reopened road and rail traffic on the bridge, but it remains limited due to the damage.
The Red Cross calls for “immediate” access to prisoners of war
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Friday demanded access “immediate and without hindrance” to the thousands of prisoners of war from the conflict in Ukraine, whom he has not yet been able to visit.
“Today we share our frustration with the lack of access to all POWs,” ICRC spokesman Ewan Watson told reporters at the regular UN briefing in Geneva.
The latter mentioned “thousands of prisoners” not being able to receive a visit from the ICRC, a right that is nevertheless enshrined in the Geneva Conventions.
TotalEnergies targeted by a complaint for “complicity in a war crime”
The Bordeaux NGO Darwin Climax Coalitions, with the Ukrainian NGO Razom We Stand, told franceinfo that it had filed a complaint with the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office against TotalEnergies for “complicity in a war crime”, confirming information from the newspaper The world.
The daily revealed at the end of August, thanks to several documents and an investigation by the NGO Global Witness, that a company jointly owned 49% by TotalEnergies and 51% by the Russian Novatek was manufacturing fuel intended to supply planes of war Russians engaged in the conflict in Ukraine. Total denied this information.