https://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:41:24 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As the conflict in the Persian Gulf continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-live-blog-trump-middle-east/33803414.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-live-blog-trump-middle-east/33803414.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories The US House of Representatives moved to advance a sweeping Russia and Iran sanctions package on August 10, just days after the Senate approved it by an overwhelming 86-11 vote, https://www.rferl.org/a/33826098.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33826098.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:23:41 +0200 NewsIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories A statement by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Belgrade about Ukraine’s continued non-recognition of Kosovo independence has sparked controversy in Pristina, with the removal of a large Ukrainian flag from a prominent square in the capital and critical comments from the government. https://www.rferl.org/a/what-are-people-in-pristina-after-zelenskyy-s-belgrade-visit-sparks-controversy-in-kosovo/33826089.html https://www.rferl.org/a/what-are-people-in-pristina-after-zelenskyy-s-belgrade-visit-sparks-controversy-in-kosovo/33826089.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 23:16:33 +0200 VideosKosovoVideo Archive Russia's Supreme Court barred the liberal Yabloko party from the ballot in parliamentary elections next month, blocking what would have been the only group that is calling for an end to Moscow's war against Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-duma-elections-yabloko-war-barred/33826059.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-duma-elections-yabloko-war-barred/33826059.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:33:09 +0200 NewsRussiaRussia Invades Ukraine Comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Belgrade have sparked controversy in Kosovo. RFE/RL’s Kosovo Service has been speaking to people in Pristina for their reactions. https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-kosovo-controversy-independence/33825969.html https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-kosovo-controversy-independence/33825969.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:24:04 +0200 FeaturesUkraineKosovoThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian drones targeted the Nizhnekamsk oil refinery in the Russian republic of Tatarstan. Local officials said on August 10 that at least 13 people were killed and 39 injured. The Nizhnekamsk complex is one of Russia's largest petrochemical and oil refining hubs. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-drone-attack-on-major-russian-oil-refinery-kills-at-least-13/33825821.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-drone-attack-on-major-russian-oil-refinery-kills-at-least-13/33825821.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:12:00 +0200 RussiaRussia Invades Ukraine Russia said at least 13 people, including a child, were killed in Ukrainian attacks on targets in the central region of Tatarstan, one of Kyiv's deadliest single attacks since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-tatarstan/33825739.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-tatarstan/33825739.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:50:50 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump appeared to back off threats of immediate military action against Iran, despite ongoing disputes with Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting he would allow economic pressure to force the Islamic republic to make a long-elusive peace deal. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-war--economic-pressure/33825694.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-war--economic-pressure/33825694.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:13:15 +0200 News Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Belgrade since being elected in 2019 has produced few significant results while underlining Serbia’s ongoing efforts to maintain ties with both Moscow and the West. https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-seeks-to-maintain-balancing-act-as-zelenskyy-visits-belgrade/33824814.html https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-seeks-to-maintain-balancing-act-as-zelenskyy-visits-belgrade/33824814.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:16:55 +0200 NewsUkraineSerbiaThe Rundown Stories A shortage of shelters in Kyiv has left some residents complaining they have nowhere to hide amid intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks. https://www.rferl.org/a/shelter-shortage-kyiv-ukraine-russian-missile-attacks/33824765.html https://www.rferl.org/a/shelter-shortage-kyiv-ukraine-russian-missile-attacks/33824765.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:37:18 +0200 FeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline The Russian state entices men to fight in the war on Ukraine by offering high wages and relatively generous benefits. But relatives and activists say the military often avoids paying what it owes by declaring soldiers AWOL despite the likelihood that they have been killed, captured, or gone missing. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-awol-fake-military-deception-missing/33823408.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-awol-fake-military-deception-missing/33823408.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:44:34 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The US Senate on August 7 overwhelmingly approved legislation aimed at tightening economic pressure on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-senate-trump-graham-sanctions/33824412.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-senate-trump-graham-sanctions/33824412.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:53:16 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineThe Rundown Stories Before-and-after satellite images released by Vantor reveal the extent of the damage to Wildberries warehouses across Russia. Dubbed the "Russian Amazon," at least 20 facilities belonging to the country's largest online retailer have been targeted by a Ukrainian drone campaign since mid-July. https://www.rferl.org/a/wildberries-russia-satellite-ukraine-war-drones/33824084.html https://www.rferl.org/a/wildberries-russia-satellite-ukraine-war-drones/33824084.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:08:13 +0200 Photo GalleriesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories As regional security tensions continue to mount amid the protracted conflict between Iran and the US, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey came together on August 7 to sign a joint defense agreement in order to "strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression." https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-turkey-pakistan-defense-agreement-iran-war/33824220.html https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-turkey-pakistan-defense-agreement-iran-war/33824220.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:42:03 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Oleksiy Yukov spent years trawling the sprawling Ukrainian countryside for the remains of fallen soldiers, whom he identified so that families could hold dignified burials. Now, Yukov is being laid to rest after being killed during one of his missions to exhume bodies near the front line. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-russia-oleksiy-yukov-fallen-soldiers-remains/33823497.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-russia-oleksiy-yukov-fallen-soldiers-remains/33823497.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:19:52 +0200 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Oleksiy Yukov devoted his life to finding and recovering the remains of fallen soldiers on the battlefields of Ukraine. Just days after RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service filmed him on one of his missions, Yukov's wife announced that he had died near the front lines. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-fallen-soldiers-search-mission/33823670.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-fallen-soldiers-search-mission/33823670.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:23:01 +0200 UkraineVideo ArchiveVideos Russian officials make no secret of what a new law signed by President Vladimir Putin is intended to do: strip basic legal rights from many Russians living outside the country, and scare them into silence. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-law-foreign-agent-consular-restriction-exile/33823432.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-law-foreign-agent-consular-restriction-exile/33823432.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:40:50 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Interviews with residents and police units in Kherson were constantly interrupted by Russian drone attacks. Recent targets include a mechanic riding his bike to work and a garbage truck. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kherson-russian-drones-human-safari/33822793.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kherson-russian-drones-human-safari/33822793.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:16:17 +0200 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories As Russian drones terrorize the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, RFE/RL follows the police units trying to shoot them down. Residents whose homes have been hit explain why they continue living in one of Ukraine's most dangerous cities. https://www.rferl.org/a/living-under-russian-drones-in-kherson/33823399.html https://www.rferl.org/a/living-under-russian-drones-in-kherson/33823399.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:14:32 +0200 UkraineRussia Invades Ukraine A bipartisan coalition in the US Senate is working to keep momentum behind a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia and Iran, with lawmakers from both parties arguing that the legislation would send a broader message about American resolve against authoritarian powers. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-vote-war/33822958.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-vote-war/33822958.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:34:10 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories