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 Mon, 17 Aug 2026 02:17:47 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL A number of senior figures in Russian drone companies are facing fraud charges, with one accused of passing Chinese drones off as being produced in Russia. Drones made by both companies have been presented to President Vladimir Putin as examples of homegrown innovation. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drones-corruption-fraud-ukraine-china/33830405.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drones-corruption-fraud-ukraine-china/33830405.html Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:37:23 +0200 RussiaFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesChina Russian authorities are bringing treason charges against people for taking photos of war graves, a key indicator of the extent of the country's war dead. An activist has told Current Time that the photos are often also used by scammers targeting families who have lost relatives in the fighting. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-graves-treasonfsb/33829646.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-graves-treasonfsb/33829646.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:34:17 +0200 RussiaFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Opposition Belarusian politician Alyaksandr Milinkevich, who ran for president in 2006, has died following an illness aged 79, according to a social media post by his stepson. https://www.rferl.org/a/alyaksandr-milinkevich-belarus-opposition-leader-dies-79-/33826702.html https://www.rferl.org/a/alyaksandr-milinkevich-belarus-opposition-leader-dies-79-/33826702.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:34:30 +0200 NewsBelarusThe Rundown Stories 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 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 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 Amid an ongoing row between Washington and Tehran over whether international monitors can verify Iranian compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation commitments, former officials have told RFE/RL that the scale, scope, and degree of access are crucial to the success of inspections. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-verification-nuclear-iaea/33788603.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-verification-nuclear-iaea/33788603.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:25:20 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East US President Donald Trump held a “very good meeting” with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in France, adding that “Russia should make a deal” while hinting that Europe’s largest conflict since World War II might be moving up his priority list. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ukraine-focus-iran-russia/33782190.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ukraine-focus-iran-russia/33782190.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:57:38 +0200 NewsIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iranians say they have been warned by security officials not to speak to US-funded Persian-language media, such as RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, amid a crackdown in which the Iranian authorities say they have charged increasing numbers with espionage for “cooperation with the enemy.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:32:46 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Recent reports from Iran suggest that an intense crackdown on political opposition within the country that began during mass protests in January is continuing unabated. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-arrests-political-prisoners-protests/33780086.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-arrests-political-prisoners-protests/33780086.html Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:43:57 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories A social media post by Pakistan's prime minister set a 24-hour clock ticking on July 13 as he said a deal between Washington and Tehran was closer “than ever before.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-deal-conflicting-reports-fragile-cease-fire/33779736.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-deal-conflicting-reports-fragile-cease-fire/33779736.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:15:33 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline Ukraine’s ramped-up attacks on Russia's oil sector this year have led to production cuts and shortages, highlighting improved tactics and successes for Kyiv. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fuel-crunch-ukraine-refineries-strikes/33778225.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fuel-crunch-ukraine-refineries-strikes/33778225.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:39:11 +0200 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Armenians go to the polls on June 7 in parliamentary elections in which the country’s basic foreign policy orientation is at stake. While Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has pulled the country towards the West, Russia has responded with multiple moves aimed at halting the shift. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-economy-armenia-westward-tilt-elections/33773229.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-economy-armenia-westward-tilt-elections/33773229.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:49:41 +0200 FeaturesArmeniaRussiaThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has written an open letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, urging him to attend a meeting between the two leaders at a neutral location to agree an end to the war. https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-open-letter-putin-peace/33772829.html https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-open-letter-putin-peace/33772829.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:54:45 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The shaky video of the incident recalled the famous "Tank Man" protester on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, who single-handedly defied an armored column during pro-democracy protests in 1989 that were subsequently crushed by tanks. https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-tehran-tiananmen-moment/33770299.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-tehran-tiananmen-moment/33770299.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:03:37 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Headline US President Donald Trump has indicated that Iran's decision to end its unprecedented Internet blackout is a sign that the country wants to reach an agreement with the United States. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-internet-blackout-us-deal/33766937.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-internet-blackout-us-deal/33766937.html Wed, 27 May 2026 19:20:28 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Stories Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced strong support for Iran in its conflict with the United States as he greeted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi for talks in St Petersburg on April 27. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-iran-strategic-relationship-araqchi-russia/33743629.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-iran-strategic-relationship-araqchi-russia/33743629.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:31:22 +0200 NewsIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories Forty years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich says Belarus is still a "laboratory" in which the long-term effects of the massive radiation leak continue to play out. https://www.rferl.org/a/chernobyl-belarus-nobel-author-alexievich/33740662.html https://www.rferl.org/a/chernobyl-belarus-nobel-author-alexievich/33740662.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:00:36 +0200 UkraineFeaturesBelarusThe Rundown Stories Some analysts argue there’s a hidden struggle going on in the Kremlin between security structures and economic interests. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-politics-rift-putin-influencer-internet-economy/33740904.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-politics-rift-putin-influencer-internet-economy/33740904.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:21:49 +0200 RussiaFeaturesThe Rundown Headline China is Iran’s most important ally, but it lacks the full diplomatic and economic leverage to force Tehran to make concessions, according to experts who spoke to RFE/RL. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-trump-xi-oil-middle-east-peace-cease-fire-talks/33734488.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-trump-xi-oil-middle-east-peace-cease-fire-talks/33734488.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:38:43 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina