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, 31 Jul 2026 00:12:22 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Young Russians hoping to attend university are finding they have poor odds of getting in this year, even with outstanding exam scores. One reason is a government quota system that favors veterans of the war in Ukraine and their children for coveted state-funded university spots. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-university-students-veterans-war-ukraine/33818603.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-university-students-veterans-war-ukraine/33818603.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:40:37 +0200 RussiaVideo ArchiveVideos Ukrainian drone-interceptor crews are working around the clock to stop Russian reconnaissance and attack drones approaching the frontline city of Kramatorsk. RFE/RL spent a night with one team defending the skies as aerial attacks intensify. https://www.rferl.org/a/on-the-front-line-of-ukraine-s-drone-war-over-kramatorsk/33810699.html https://www.rferl.org/a/on-the-front-line-of-ukraine-s-drone-war-over-kramatorsk/33810699.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:20:24 +0200 UkraineVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories As battlefield injuries mount from a long-running war, Ukrainian companies are racing to meet a high demand for prosthetic limbs. One start-up, Allbionics, is making sophisticated prosthetics that it offers to patients at no cost, with the help of government support and private donations. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-disabled-veterans-prosthetic-limbs/33809139.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-disabled-veterans-prosthetic-limbs/33809139.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:18:10 +0200 UkraineVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories After fleeing Mariupol in 2022, Kateryna Kolmykova rebuilt her life and business in Kyiv from scratch. But a Russian missile strike in June destroyed the small shop that was her family's only source of income. After the strike, she says she received thousands of messages of support. https://www.rferl.org/a/after-fleeing-mariupol-ukrainian-woman-s-new-life-destroyed-in-russian-attack/33810005.html https://www.rferl.org/a/after-fleeing-mariupol-ukrainian-woman-s-new-life-destroyed-in-russian-attack/33810005.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 18:32:19 +0200 VideosUkraineVideo ArchiveRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Worsening fuel shortages are causing more frustration across Russia, with social media videos regularly showing fist fights at gas stations and drivers demanding answers from authorities. The Kremlin claims the country's energy system remains resilient. https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-fuel-shortages-spark-public-anger/33805101.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-fuel-shortages-spark-public-anger/33805101.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:54:53 +0200 RussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe 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 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 For more than four years, the inhabitants of Omsk, a Siberian city more than 2,250 kilometers east of Moscow, have watched the war against Ukraine from afar. This week they got a close-up view that has left many in shock. https://www.rferl.org/a/omsk-residents-describe-huge-shock-surprise-ukrainian-attack/33800151.html https://www.rferl.org/a/omsk-residents-describe-huge-shock-surprise-ukrainian-attack/33800151.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:22:11 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories More than a dozen people were killed in overnight Russian missile and drone strikes in and around Kyiv on July 6. Residential buildings were hit, and more than 40 people were wounded, including children. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-kyiv-civilian-deaths-missile-drone-strike/33797782.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-kyiv-civilian-deaths-missile-drone-strike/33797782.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:50:48 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region early on July 6, striking residential buildings and killing at least 27 people while injuring nearly 100, hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of an impending Russian strike. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-zelenskyy-russia-attack-nato-putin/33797564.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-zelenskyy-russia-attack-nato-putin/33797564.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 03:01:26 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline In a video captured in the Russian city of Penza, women sob as their loved ones are loaded into a van by recruitment officers, apparently after the men were forced into signing military contracts. Similar reports have emerged from several Russian regions in recent weeks. https://www.rferl.org/a/stealing-our-husbands-russians-say-relatives-seized-off-streets-in-latest-recruitment-push-/33794872.html https://www.rferl.org/a/stealing-our-husbands-russians-say-relatives-seized-off-streets-in-latest-recruitment-push-/33794872.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:49:22 +0200 VideosRussiaVideo Archive At least 17 people were killed and more than 80 injured, including children, in overnight Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on July 2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned that Russia was preparing a massive strike. https://www.rferl.org/a/deadly-overnight-russian-strike-hits-kyiv/33794697.html https://www.rferl.org/a/deadly-overnight-russian-strike-hits-kyiv/33794697.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:20:41 +0200 UkraineRussia Invades Ukraine Ukrainian film artists are determined to build back the loss of 100,000 costumes, used in dozens of historic films, that burned in a Russian air attack on the Dovzhenko National Film Studios on June 15. Current Time's Yulia Zhukova spoke with studio staff about their commitment to cinema heritage. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-film-studios-dovzhenko-russia-strike-costume-fire-archive/33787995.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-film-studios-dovzhenko-russia-strike-costume-fire-archive/33787995.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:41:03 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Russia is reportedly developing new military infrastructure near its border with NATO member Finland that will be able to house thousands of Russian soldiers. The new base lies some 170 kilometers from Russia's frontier with NATO. https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-s-north-watches-russia-s-new-garrisons-with-growing-concern/33787218.html https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-s-north-watches-russia-s-new-garrisons-with-growing-concern/33787218.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:44:20 +0200 VideosRussiaVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories Ukraine's military says it struck oil facilities near the Crimea Bridge and at other sites on the Russian-occupied peninsula on June 23 amid a severe gasoline shortage in Crimea due to escalating attacks. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-crimea-strike-oil-kerch-russia-occupied-gasoline-shortage-drone/33787152.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-crimea-strike-oil-kerch-russia-occupied-gasoline-shortage-drone/33787152.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:05:24 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories After recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow’s main oil refinery, Russian media are downplaying the impact of the dramatic attacks. As Current Time's Andrey Cherkasov explains, authorities and pro-Kremlin pundits are calling for a crackdown on people who post videos of burning ruins online. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-moscow-kremlin-media-internet-videos-downplay/33786444.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-moscow-kremlin-media-internet-videos-downplay/33786444.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 20:48:50 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories 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. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-gasoline-fuel-crisis-refinery-attacks-ukraine/33784529.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-gasoline-fuel-crisis-refinery-attacks-ukraine/33784529.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:19:30 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Videos posted online captured drone attacks on sites in Moscow and the surrounding region early on June 16. The Kapotnya oil refinery near the capital was seen in flames. Kyiv has intensified its attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure as it tries to disrupt the funds driving Russia's war effort. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-drones-strike-moscow-refinery/33782393.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-drones-strike-moscow-refinery/33782393.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:37:07 +0200 RussiaUkraineVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Despite Russian strikes from the Black Sea, real estate agents say Odesa’s property market is surging. Seaside homes and apartments are selling fast, driven by locals, Kyiv buyers, and displaced Ukrainians. For many in the city, life by the sea continues -- guarded by air defenses. https://www.rferl.org/a/odesa-s-property-boom-defies-war-as-buyers-return-to-black-sea/33782169.html https://www.rferl.org/a/odesa-s-property-boom-defies-war-as-buyers-return-to-black-sea/33782169.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:56:14 +0200 VideosRussiaUkraineVideo ArchiveRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Parts of the UNESCO-protected Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine's most revered Orthodox monastery, were set ablaze during a Russian missile and drone barrage. https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-monastery-of-the-caves-fire-ukraine/33781324.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-monastery-of-the-caves-fire-ukraine/33781324.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:37:35 +0200 VideosUkraineVideo ArchiveRussia Invades Ukraine