Ukraine updates: Red Cross demands access to POWs

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it shares "frustration'' about incomplete access to prisoners of the war in Ukraine.

It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the ICRC of inaction in upholding the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

He said no one had yet visited the Olenivka prison in Russian-occupied Donetsk where dozens of Ukrainian POWs died in an explosion and fire in July.

The head of the Ukrainian president's office, Andriy Yermak, said on Thursday that Kyiv was giving the ICRC three days to send a mission to the Olenivka.

ICRC spokesperson Ewan Watson said that "our teams are ready on the ground and have been ready for months to visit the Olenivka penal facility and any other facility where POWs are held."

"Beyond being granted access by high levels of authority, this requires practical arrangements to materialize on the ground. We cannot access by force a place of detention of internment where we have not been admitted."

He said the ICRC "have been able to visit hundreds of POWs on both sides, but there are thousands more who we have not been able to see," adding there were limits on what it can do.

Here are the other main headlines from the war in Ukraine on July 14.

Russia has nuclear weapons for a reason, Lukashenko warns 

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday that the "nuclear weapons" Russia possesses were "created for something" as he warned of pushing Moscow "into a corner."

In extracts of an interview with the US broadcaster NBC, released by the Belarussian state news agency, Lukashenko said: "Russia has clearly outlined its position: God forbid there will be an attack on the territory of the Russian Federation; in that event, Russia can use all types of weapons if necessary."

Concern has mounted in the West that Russian President Vladimir Putin may resort to nuclear weapons since a series of defeats for his forces in Ukraine swung the momentum of the war in Kyiv's favour.

Meanwhile, Russian troops "will start arriving in Belarus in the next few days," to take part in a "regional grouping" of forces to protect its borders, the Minsk defence ministry said Friday.

Lukashenko said earlier this week that his troops would deploy with Russian forces near the Ukrainian border.

Putin warns NATO about direct confrontation

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned direct clash of NATO troops with Russia would lead to a "global catastrophe."

Speaking at a news conference in the Kazakh capital Astana he said "those who are saying this are smart enough not to take such steps," without expanding on his comments.

NATO leaders have repeatedly said they are not looking for a direct confrontation with Russia. 

Putin also saw "no need" for talks with US President Joe Biden and said that he had not yet taken a decision on attending a Group of 20 Summit in Indonesia next month.

The Russian leader said he had "no" regrets about the war in Ukraine.

"What is happening today is not pleasant. But all the same, (if Russia hadn't attacked on February) we would have been in the same situation, only the conditions would have been worse for us. So we're doing everything right," he said. 

Putin said there was no need for more 'massive' missile strikes against Ukraine.

That's despite the increased and continued Russian bombardment of Ukraine this week. 

The Russian leader also sounded confident about the call up of an extra 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine saying it should be completed in two weeks.

He added that he didn't forsee "any additional need [for troops] in the foreseeable future.

The call-up, announced by Putin in September, has proved hugely unpopular in Russia, where almost all men under the age of 65 are registered as reservists. 

Mongolia prime minister warns escalation 'could wipe out human race'

Addressing a possible use of weapons of mass destruction, the Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene told DW that "it could wipe out the human race."

"From the very beginning, Mongolia has held the position and policy that countries should resolve their issues in a peaceful way," he said. "As the war drags out, every country in the world will pay and suffer."

Oyun-Erdene also feels the West may have "no other choice" but to propose talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Asked if the arrival of thousands of Russians to Mongolia is turning the war into a domestic policy issue, he said that "our government is working to ensure the safety of those people within the legal framework."

Russian sumbarine seen near French coast

A Russian submarine was observed sailing on the surface, off the French coast near Brittany at the end of September. It was subsequently escorted by the French navy, the navy said Friday.

The navy added that British and Spanish warships had also been involved in keeping a watchful on the submarine's movements.

Zaporizhzhia hit by Russian strikes, Ukrainian army says

Russia is keeping up its targeted attacks on critical infrastructure across Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Friday.

The capital of the Zaphorizhzhia region continued to be a focal point for Russian fire now in its fifth day.

Zaporizhzhia regional Governor Oleksandr Starukh said several explosions were reported in the city overnight at infrastructure facilities, causing fires.

Russian forces have struck the regional capital and surrounding area continuously in recent days and weeks, creating concerns about the safety of the nearby nuclear power plant.

According to the General Staff, Russian force deployed cruise, air-to-surface, and anti-aircraft guided missiles, as well as Iranian-made attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out attacks.

"Facilities and civilians in Nalyvaikivka in the Kyiv region and in the cities of Mykolaiv and Nikopol, both in the south, were targeted," they said. 

Zelenskyy promise victory as Ukraine marks Defenders Day

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked Ukraine's Defenders Day holiday on Friday by promising victory over Russia.

The Ukrainian leader said that by "defeating" Russia "we will respond to all enemies who encroached on Ukraine."

"This will be a victory for all our people," he added.

He laid a wreath with the yellow and blue colors of the Ukrainian flag in front of a memorial in the capital Kyiv, dedicated to soldiers killed on the frontlines since 2014, when Russia first invaded and annexed Crimea.

Zelenskyy vowed that everything that had been taken away from Ukraine would be returned, and no soldier left in captivity.

"The world stands with us. More than ever in our history," he added, referring to the unprecedented support from Western capitals.

Ukrainian forces have made advances in recent weeks, but Russia has carried out heavy air strikes in the past few days.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will provide $400 million (€411 million) in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Saudi state news agency SPA said.

It added that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed the kingdom's readiness to continue efforts of mediation. He told Zelenskyy that Riyadh would support everything that contributes to de-escalation.

Moscow wants Crimea bridge repaired by next July

Damage to the bridge between the annexed Crimean peninsula and southern Russia won't be repaired until next summer.

The Kerch bridge, a showcase project of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rule, was damaged in a blast on Saturday that Russia has blamed on Ukraine. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility.

It is a strategic supply and logistics artery for Russian forces in Ukraine's occupied Kherson region.

On Friday a Cabinet decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the company tasked with the "design and restoration of destroyed elements of the transport and engineering infrastructure of the Crimean Bridge" to complete the work by July 1, 2023.

EU ambassadors back training mission for 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers: report

European Union ambassadors have unanimously approved a plan to train up to 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers, the German press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported on Friday.

Citing several unnamed diplomats, dpa said the training mission was approved at the EU ambassadors conference and could get the final go-ahead from EU foreign affairs ministers meeting on Monday in Luxembourg.

Several European countries were already providing military training to Ukrainian soldiers, but Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, mooted EU level military training mission in August.

"There are many training initiatives underway, but the needs are enormous," he said.

On Monday, the German Der Spiegel magazine reported that Poland would receive EU funds to set up a headquarters for the scheme, while some parts will be run in other EU states.

Germany plans to offer troop training at a combat simulation center, while Ukrainian engineers, medics and other specialists will also be trained in the country, the magazine said. 

Ukraine retakes more than 600 settlements in past month, says Kyiv

In the past month, Ukraine's armed forces have retaken more than 600 settlements, including 75 in the strategic Kherson region, said Ukraine's Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporary Occupied Territories.

Around 502 of those settlements were in the northeastern Kharkiv region. In the east, another 43 settlements were retaken in Donetsk and seven in Luhansk.

"The area of ​​liberated Ukrainian territories has increased significantly," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Ukrainian forces have burst through Russia's front lines in the southern Kherson region since the beginning of October, marking their biggest advance in the south since the war began. 

UK intelligence: Moscow-backed forces advance toward eastern Ukraine town

Pro-Russian forces have made tactical advances toward the center of the town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region in the last three days, the British Defense Ministry said in its regular intelligence update.

"Elements of the 2nd Army Corps, the pro-Russian militia of the Luhansk region, likely advanced into the villages of Opytine and Ivangard to the south of the town," the report said.

While Russian or seperatists forces have made few other advances in Ukraine since early July, forces led by the private military company Wagner Group have achieved some local gains in Donbas. "Wagner likely remains heavily involved in the Bakhmut fighting," it added.

The ministry further warned that Russia views Bakhmut as a preliminary to advancing on the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk urban area, which is "the most significant population center" in Donetsk held by Ukraine.

Catch up on DW's coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine

For many Ukrainians, October 10 was a reminder of February 24, when Russia began shelling cities across the country. This time, however, people are responding differently.

DW reports on how Ukrainians reacted to Russia's massive missile attackon the country this week.

jsi,lo,mk/fb (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)