We know you're busy and probably don't have the time to read all of our coverage each and every day. That's why we've put together The Week's Best. Here are some of the highlights produced in English by RFE/RL's vast team of correspondents, multimedia editors, and visual journalists over the past seven days.
RFE/RL Meets Shocked Russian Civilians In Town Captured By Ukrainian Forces
Residents of the Russian border town of Sudzha appeared shocked and disorientated at its capture by Ukrainian forces, in interviews with an RFE/RL reporter during a media tour organized by Ukrainian authorities on August 20. Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border attack into Russia in early August and now holds a swath of territory. By Roman Pahulych, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Ray Furlong
Blown Bridges: Ukraine’s Invasion Expands, Russia Closes In On Donbas City
Two weeks into their stunning invasion of Russian territory, Ukrainian forces are blowing river crossings and digging defenses, suggesting the end game is far from over. Russian forces are still scrambling to contain the effort, but further to the south, they’re closing in on critical Donbas supply lines. By Mike Eckel
How Would Iran Benefit From Exporting Ballistic Missiles To Russia?
A new report claims Iran is training Russian military personnel to use its close-range, ballistic-missile system Fath-360 in preparation for exporting it to Russia. Analysts say such a development would boost Russia’s war efforts while helping Tehran become a major partner to Moscow. By Kian Sharifi
Ukrainian Refugees Homeless After Hungary Limits Support
At least 120 Ukrainian citizens, mainly from the Transcarpathian region, are now homeless, with thousands more facing eviction as Hungary enforces a decree that restricts state-subsidized accommodation to those directly affected by the war in Ukraine. By RFE/RL's Hungarian Service and Kurt Vinion
Schoolgirl's 'Sexual Slavery' Shocks Kazakhstan, Highlights Lack Of Protections
The story of a schoolgirl in the southern city of Qyzylorda being sold into months-long prostitution by her classmates has stunned Kazakhs. Police have arrested four minors, but activists say the problem goes far deeper than that. By Manshuk Asautai and Chris Rickleton
'I Cry Every Day': Ukrainians Scramble To Evacuate Areas Near Pokrovsk As Russians Advance
Ukrainian authorities scrambled to evacuate residents from the town of Myrnohrad in the eastern Donetsk region as Russian troops advance. Located only a few kilometers from Pokrovsk, which local authorities fear could soon fall, about 1,500 residents of Myrnohrad were evacuated on August 20. Authorities say some 50,000 people still live in Pokrovsk and the surrounding areas, including some 16,000 in Myrnohrad. By Serhiy Horbatenko, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Austin Malloy
Rivers Of Honey: How Beekeepers Survive Along Kyrgyzstan's Mountain Waterways
In the mountains where waterways that feed the great Syr Darya River originate, three generations of Kyrgyz beekeepers seek out the flower fields that will nourish the tens of thousands of bees that keep their family business alive. By Petr Trotsenko
Russian Murder-Plot Suspect's Family Lives In 'Spectacular' British Mansion, Investigation Concludes
RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit traced Instagram posts by Olga Savelyeva, wife of Russian parliament member Dmitry Savelyev, recently detained on suspicion of ordering contract killing, to a multimillion-dollar mansion in the U.K.’s Wentworth Estate, a former home to Elton John and Augusto Pinochet. By Andrei Soshnikov and Systema
Kyrgyz Women Craft Woolen Wonders Using Centuries-Old Tradition
Intricate woolen carpets made in western Kyrgyzstan's Leilek district stand out as a unique regional art form in the one of the country's most remote regions, where there are few opportunities for local women to earn an income. With the help of online marketing, the hand-made carpets help showcase the country's traditional culture to domestic and international buyers. By Almira Abidinova, RFE/RL's Ferghana Valley Bureau, and Austin Malloy
Pakistan’s Internet 'Firewall' Aimed At Crushing Dissent Upends Livelihood
Pakistan appears to be implementing an Internet firewall to monitor and regulate content and social media platforms. Activists say the aim is to stifle dissent in the South Asian country. The Internet disruptions caused by the imposition of the firewall are already having an impact on businesses. By Abubakar Siddique