Features

• June 24, 2026

  Russia Is Grappling With Its Worst Nationwide Fuel Shortages In Years. Here's Where.

  More than half of Russia’s 83 regions are struggling with gasoline shortages, due overwhelmingly to Ukrainian drone strikes. Local authorities are imposing daily limits or other restrictions. Officials are trying to ward off panic buying. It’s turning into a serious headache for the Kremlin.

• June 24, 2026

  Fire And Farewells As Ukrainians Flee Continued Russian Advance In The Donbas

  A Ukrainian photojournalist captured life near the front lines as the Russian invasion into eastern Ukraine persists despite Kyiv's successful drone strikes deep inside Russia.

• June 24, 2026

  Taliban Enforces 'Proper Hijab' With Detentions And Beatings Of Women

  The Taliban’s morality police have intensified the enforcement of the hijab, or Islamic head scarf, in western Afghanistan. In the city of Herat, women told RFE/RL that the Taliban routinely stops and inspects women in the streets.

• June 24, 2026

  Raver, Monk, Millionaire: The Shape-Shifting Russian At The Heart Of A Hockey Arena Deal

  A star of the rave scene in post-Soviet St. Petersburg, Gavriil Frolov dropped out of sight, adopted a new name, and became a monk. Now, he’s at the center of a deal that handed a billion-dollar ice hockey arena in Putin’s hometown to the Russian gas giant Gazprom, RFE/RL has found.

• June 23, 2026

  Wider Europe Briefing: Ireland's EU Presidency Puts Enlargement Back In Focus

  In this week's briefing, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak drills down on one issue: EU enlargement as Ireland takes over the EU presidency.

• June 23, 2026

  Medal Row Highlights Tricky Relations Between Kyiv And Warsaw As EU Talks Begin

  A dispute over a Polish state honor awarded to Volodymyr Zelenskyy has exposed deeper tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv, highlighting how historical grievances and domestic politics could complicate Ukraine's path toward EU membership.

• June 23, 2026

  Lukashenko Strives To Keep Belarus Out Of War After Zelenskyy Ultimatum

  Aleksandr Lukashenko is walking a fine line aimed at making sure that Belarus does not get dragged into Russia’s war in Ukraine following an ultimatum by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that hinted at Ukrainian military or covert action.

• June 21, 2026

  What's In A Name? Tajikistan Tightens Rules On What Children Can Be Called

  A Tajik couple was forced to abandon the name they chose for their newborn child after officials said it was not on an approved registry. The case highlights Tajikistan's controversial effort to promote Persian-rooted names and curb visible Islamic influences.

• June 20, 2026

  Iran Under Pressure To Act As Fighting In Lebanon Continues

  Israeli strikes have killed dozens in south Lebanon despite the US-Iran memorandum's first clause calling for an end to the war there. Tehran is facing a rising chorus from hard-liners demanding a response.

• June 19, 2026

  'It's Come To This': Gas Shortages Hit Russia As Ukraine Hits Refineries

  Pulling up at a gas station with no fuel for sale, a Russian woman is aghast: “What’s going on in this country?” What’s going on is that in the fifth year of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine is fighting back with strikes on oil refineries, part of a bid to bring the war to citizens across Russia.

• June 19, 2026

  Putin's 'War Trap' And The Potential Price Of Peace

  When he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many warned Vladimir Putin that the offensive he claimed was meant to bolster Russia’s security would instead put it in jeopardy. Now, in a country steeped in war, analysts say peace could pose major risks – not least for Putin himself.

• June 18, 2026

  Analysis: Iran Deal Provides Economic Boost, But Hormuz Shipping Is Key

  The Iran framework agreement gave an immediate boost to markets, with shares rising and oil prices dipping. But whether this translates into durable economic gains will largely depend on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

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