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 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:13:39 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL US forces stepped up attacks on Iranian sites, reportedly striking key bridges and an airport, prompting retaliatory action by Tehran, even while the White House said talks between the warring sides were still under way and that diplomacy was still a viable option. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-washington-tehran-hormuz-trump-centcom/33805272.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-washington-tehran-hormuz-trump-centcom/33805272.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:24 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Crowds gathered in Ukraine's major cities on July 16 after news broke that Mykhaylo Fedorov, the country's widely respected defense minister, had been dismissed. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-defense-minister-fired-protests-controversy-war/33805012.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-defense-minister-fired-protests-controversy-war/33805012.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:52:38 +0200 Russia Invades UkraineNewsRussiaPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's sacking of Ukraine's popular defense minister, Mykhaylo Fedorov, is not just a dramatic shakeup of his cabinet. It's sent shock waves through the country's political and military circles, and it's driven protesters into the streets. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainians-rally-against-dismissal-of-popular-defense-minister/33804937.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainians-rally-against-dismissal-of-popular-defense-minister/33804937.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:48:35 +0200 VideosUkraineVideo Archive US President Donald Trump said air strikes on Iran will continue until he says "it's enough," as Tehran and Washington stepped up attacks in a battle to control the Strait of Hormuz, in what the United Nations called a "huge setback" for civilians in the region. https://www.rferl.org/a/trumps-strikes-iran-battle-strait-of-hormuz-escalates/33803719.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trumps-strikes-iran-battle-strait-of-hormuz-escalates/33803719.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 01:11:10 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories France will allow Ukraine to produce French-made ​cruise missiles, precision guided bombs and air defense interceptor ‌missiles on top of orders for the next-generation Franco-Italian air defense system SAMP/T and 16 Rafale fighter jets. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-france-defense-systems-patriot/33803618.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-france-defense-systems-patriot/33803618.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:04:01 +0200 NewsUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump has walked back his plan to charge a 20 percent fee on cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, replacing it with proposed trade and investment agreements with Persian Gulf states while maintaining a blockade on Iranian shipping. https://www.rferl.org/a/33802915.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33802915.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 01:00:10 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Headline US Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the Republican Party's most influential voices on foreign policy and among Ukraine's strongest supporters in Washington, died on July 11 after what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness." He was 71. https://www.rferl.org/a/lindsey-graham-us-senator-and-prominent-ukraine-advocate-dies-at-71/33802035.html https://www.rferl.org/a/lindsey-graham-us-senator-and-prominent-ukraine-advocate-dies-at-71/33802035.html Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:03:54 +0200 VideosVideo Archive US Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the Republican Party's most influential voices on foreign policy and among Ukraine's strongest supporters in Washington, died on July 11 after what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness." https://www.rferl.org/a/south-carolina-senator-lindsey-graham-dies-at-71/33801981.html https://www.rferl.org/a/south-carolina-senator-lindsey-graham-dies-at-71/33801981.html Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:40:08 +0200 NewsThe Rundown Headline The United States struck targets around southern Iran in response to Tehran's attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iranian attacks on its Gulf neighbors, sparking claims from Bahrain that civilians were targeted. https://www.rferl.org/a/centcom-iran-strikes-hormuz-shipping-irgc/33801945.html https://www.rferl.org/a/centcom-iran-strikes-hormuz-shipping-irgc/33801945.html Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:08:23 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Russian ultra-fast ballistic missiles continued to create havoc in Ukrainian cities, combining with drones and guided bombs to kill at least six people in the latest attacks, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to urge Western allies to speed delivery of air defense weaponry. https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-ballistic-missiles-patriot-trump/33801659.html https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-ballistic-missiles-patriot-trump/33801659.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:18:49 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Kyiv continues to strike Russian "shadow fleet" tankers in the Sea of Azov, according to footage released by the Ukrainian military. Ukraine says it struck 21 tankers overnight on July 10-11 and has hit numerous others in recent days, in a bid to disrupt the fuel supply to Russian forces in Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-says-it-hit-more-russian-shadow-fleet-tankers-amid-fuel-crisis/33801623.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-says-it-hit-more-russian-shadow-fleet-tankers-amid-fuel-crisis/33801623.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:31:18 +0200 VideosRussiaUkraineVideo ArchiveRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump said Iran has as requested that “talks” between the two countries continue, although he emphatically warned Tehran that the current cease-fire is no longer in effect amid a flurry of tit-for-tat strikes by both sides. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-ceasefire-talks-qatar-hormuz/33801090.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-ceasefire-talks-qatar-hormuz/33801090.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:19:06 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Over the past three months, Russian forces have destroyed more than 150 gas stations in Ukraine using Geran-2 drones. The strikes are primarily carried out at a distance of 30–50 kilometers from the border and the front line. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-targets-ukrainian-gas-stations-with-drone-strikes/33800986.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-targets-ukrainian-gas-stations-with-drone-strikes/33800986.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:03:52 +0200 UkraineRussia Invades Ukraine The fuel crisis in Russia is causing tensions to boil over at gas stations across the country. Ukraine's repeated attacks on Russian energy facilities have caused serious fuel shortages. Social media users have shared videos of brawls breaking out as people wait in hours-long lines to refuel. https://www.rferl.org/a/brawls-break-out-at-russian-gas-stations-amid-anger-over-fuel-crisis-/33800286.html https://www.rferl.org/a/brawls-break-out-at-russian-gas-stations-amid-anger-over-fuel-crisis-/33800286.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:02:27 +0200 VideosRussiaVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, US President Donald Trump said he thinks Russia is ready to make a deal to end the war with Ukraine. RFE/RL correspondent Zoriana Stepanenko asked Trump what led to that conclusion and how Ukraine's allies might ensure that Russia does not attack again. https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-united-states-trump-putin-russia-ukraine/33799663.html https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-united-states-trump-putin-russia-ukraine/33799663.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:28:21 +0200 RussiaVideo ArchiveVideos Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s largest oil refinery in Omsk for the first time, according to Ukrainian officials. Locals filmed the strike and thick smoke rising over the facility, located more than 2,500 kilometers from Ukraine’s border. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-drones-hit-omsk-oil-refinery-for-the-first-time/33798604.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-drones-hit-omsk-oil-refinery-for-the-first-time/33798604.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:09 +0200 RussiaRussia Invades Ukraine On the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, the alliance’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte said European members and Canada are on track to bring their defense spending into line with that of the United States, which has long criticized Europe's lack of military spending and perceived "free riding." https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-summit-ankara-rutte-defense-spending-ukraine/33797955.html https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-summit-ankara-rutte-defense-spending-ukraine/33797955.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:18:41 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iranian authorities imposed extensive security measures across Tehran on July 6, including the closure of the capital's airspace, as public funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei got underway. https://www.rferl.org/a/tehran-khamenei-funeral-security-crowds/33797805.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tehran-khamenei-funeral-security-crowds/33797805.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:52:20 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Kremlin said President Donald Trump spoke separately with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders as efforts to end the war remained stalled, with Kyiv and Moscow deadlocked over key issues. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-zelenskyy-putin-ukraine-russia-war/33797094.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-zelenskyy-putin-ukraine-russia-war/33797094.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:07:26 +0200 UkraineNewsRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was absent as funeral prayers for his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were held early on July 5, more than four months after he was killed during US-Israeli strikes at the outset of the war in the Middle East. https://www.rferl.org/a/mojtaba-khamenei-absent-ali-khamenei-funeral/33797118.html https://www.rferl.org/a/mojtaba-khamenei-absent-ali-khamenei-funeral/33797118.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:48:20 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline