https://www.rferl.org/z/666 RFE/RL's latest news, features, commentary, and multimedia content on Russia https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/666 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Tue, 19 May 2026 04:19:07 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL The US Treasury Department has extended for another 30 days a sanctions waiver allowing at-risk countries to purchase Russian oil shipments at sea, as supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continue to roil global energy markets. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-renews-russian-oil-waiver-iran-conflict-energy-markets/33759619.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-renews-russian-oil-waiver-iran-conflict-energy-markets/33759619.html Mon, 18 May 2026 20:01:02 +0200 NewsIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories In the wake of massive drone strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine launched air attacks on May 17 called the heaviest to hit the Moscow area in over a year. At least four people died, officials said on Sunday, in strikes on the Moscow and Belgorod regions. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-moscow-russia-drone-strike-kyiv-zelenskyy/33758823.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-moscow-russia-drone-strike-kyiv-zelenskyy/33758823.html Sun, 17 May 2026 17:35:26 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades Ukraine Three people have been reported dead as Russia's Moscow region faced the largest Ukrainian assault in over a year on May 17. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drone-attack-moscow-russia/33758725.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drone-attack-moscow-russia/33758725.html Sun, 17 May 2026 10:22:41 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories In Chechnya, defying authority or tradition can carry consequences beyond life. Activists say domestic violence victims, LGBT people, and political dissenters are increasingly denied Islamic burial rites -- a final act of control and humiliation. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-chechnya-killings-burial-opprssion-violence/33756653.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-chechnya-killings-burial-opprssion-violence/33756653.html Sun, 17 May 2026 09:39:01 +0200 North CaucasusFeaturesArmeniaRussiaThe Rundown Stories The Trump administration has allowed a controversial waiver on sanctions targeting Russian seaborne oil to expire, reimposing restrictions that had temporarily enabled countries such as India to continue purchasing Russian crude despite Western efforts to curb Moscow’s wartime revenues. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-seaborne-oil-waiver-iran-energy-war/33758687.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-seaborne-oil-waiver-iran-energy-war/33758687.html Sun, 17 May 2026 09:07:28 +0200 IranNewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Mourners paid tribute to Ukrainians killed on May 14 when a Russian air attack caused an apartment building to collapse in Kyiv. "They just wiped out people," said one witness about the attack at a makeshift memorial near the ruins. Meanwhile, Russia followed up with more attacks May 16. https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-apartment-drone-strike-memorial-russia-sumy-counterstrike/33758370.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-apartment-drone-strike-memorial-russia-sumy-counterstrike/33758370.html Sat, 16 May 2026 18:07:19 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades Ukraine A major military museum in the western German city of Koblenz is denying entry to nationals from 26 countries, causing tense scenes with some visitors who arrive with children. https://www.rferl.org/a/germany-military-museum-bans-ukrainians-russians-security-risk/33756719.html https://www.rferl.org/a/germany-military-museum-bans-ukrainians-russians-security-risk/33756719.html Sat, 16 May 2026 13:28:17 +0200 FeaturesAfghanistanArmeniaAzerbaijanBelarusGeorgiaIranKazakhstanKyrgyzstanMoldovaRussiaTajikistanTurkmenistan UkraineUzbekistanTatar-BashkirPakistanPicksThe Rundown Stories A leaked EU threat assessment seen by RFE/RL warns that terrorism and violent extremism “pose a significant threat to the EU,” citing heightened risks from Afghanistan and Iran as well as negative spillover effects from the war in Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/leaked-eu-report-rising-terror-risk-iran-afghanistan-russia/33758305.html https://www.rferl.org/a/leaked-eu-report-rising-terror-risk-iran-afghanistan-russia/33758305.html Sat, 16 May 2026 13:21:43 +0200 FeaturesAfghanistanIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown HeadlineEurope Representative Brian Mast told RFE/RL during a Council on Foreign Relations event that he believes Europe should take greater responsibility for supporting Ukraine because the war is "in their backyard." https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-military-aid-us-congress/33758257.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-military-aid-us-congress/33758257.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:57:57 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute focusing on national security and transatlantic relations, told RFE/RL in an interview that Iran appears to be borrowing directly from Russia’s negotiation strategy. https://www.rferl.org/a/coffey-hudson-iran-kremlin-negotiation-russia/33757144.html https://www.rferl.org/a/coffey-hudson-iran-kremlin-negotiation-russia/33757144.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:35:24 +0200 IranNewsRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Eyewitness video captured an explosion as a Ukrainian drone hit an apartment building in the Russian city of Ryazan, killing at least four people, according to local officials. The drone attack targeted a major oil refinery in the city southeast of Moscow. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ryazan-drone-strike-apartment-oil-refinery/33757934.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ryazan-drone-strike-apartment-oil-refinery/33757934.html Fri, 15 May 2026 23:45:58 +0200 RussiaVideo ArchiveVideos In an interview with RFE/RL, Sam Brownback argued that Russia, China, and Iran are increasingly operating as part of a “dark alliance” of authoritarian states -- one built on surveillance technology, censorship, ideological control, and the suppression of religious and civil society groups. https://www.rferl.org/a/sam-brownback-religious-freedom-russia-iran-china/33757881.html https://www.rferl.org/a/sam-brownback-religious-freedom-russia-iran-china/33757881.html Fri, 15 May 2026 20:42:15 +0200 IranFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesChina Nina Litvinova, a prominent Russian human rights activist and dissident whose suicide was reported recently by Russian media, left a note blaming President Vladimir Putin for her death, according to her cousin. https://www.rferl.org/a/nina-litvinova-suicide-note-putin/33757694.html https://www.rferl.org/a/nina-litvinova-suicide-note-putin/33757694.html Fri, 15 May 2026 15:13:36 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineThe Rundown Stories A senior US State Department official warned that Russia is likely to reposition forces toward NATO’s eastern flank once the war in Ukraine ends, raising concerns that the Baltic states could face intensified military and hybrid pressure from Moscow in the years ahead. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-nato-baltic-ukraine-war-eastern-flank/33757418.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-nato-baltic-ukraine-war-eastern-flank/33757418.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:11:38 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Rescue crews searched through the rubble after Russian forces hit a Kyiv apartment building in an attack that killed at least 24 people, and US President Donald Trump suggested the strike could set back peace efforts. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-apartment-building-russia-strike/33757413.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-apartment-building-russia-strike/33757413.html Fri, 15 May 2026 02:31:33 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories As Russia launches waves of drone attacks, one of Ukraine's best defenses is an inexpensive, domestically produced weapon: the Sting interceptor drone. These 3D-printed quadcopters are designed to take out Shahed drones and cost less than one-tenth as much as their targets. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-interceptor-drones-russia-technology/33756539.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-interceptor-drones-russia-technology/33756539.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:45:03 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories At the center of the congressional push is the Ukraine Support Act, legislation that would authorize more than $1 billion in direct security assistance for Kyiv, provide $8 billion in loans, tighten sanctions on Russia, and limit presidential authority to unilaterally lift existing sanctions. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-military-aid-ukraine-congress-bipartisan/33756628.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-military-aid-ukraine-congress-bipartisan/33756628.html Thu, 14 May 2026 10:49:55 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The two leaders are expected to negotiate over rare earth exports and economic tensions while navigating growing friction over Tehran and security in Asia. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-trade-rare-earths-minerals-taiwan/33755104.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-trade-rare-earths-minerals-taiwan/33755104.html Tue, 12 May 2026 11:30:28 +0200 ChinaFeaturesIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories Migrant workers from India, Bangladesh, and elsewhere are taking up manual labor jobs inside the warring countries as Moscow and Kyiv struggle to offset shortages in their labor forces. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-migrant-workers-india-demographic-crisis/33754530.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-migrant-workers-india-demographic-crisis/33754530.html Mon, 11 May 2026 18:44:06 +0200 FeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories A Russian drone hit a high-rise residential building in Ukraine's second-largest city, authorities said, injuring at least five people and straining a three-day cease-fire timed for Victory Day celebrations. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-war-cease-fire/33753723.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-war-cease-fire/33753723.html Sun, 10 May 2026 09:49:17 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories