https://www.rferl.org/z/23311 The main stories of the day from the RFE/RL Central Newsroom. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/23311 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:44:25 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Before-and-after satellite images released by Vantor reveal the extent of the damage to Wildberries warehouses across Russia. Dubbed the "Russian Amazon," at least 20 facilities belonging to the country's largest online retailer have been targeted by a Ukrainian drone campaign since mid-July. https://www.rferl.org/a/wildberries-russia-satellite-ukraine-war-drones/33824084.html https://www.rferl.org/a/wildberries-russia-satellite-ukraine-war-drones/33824084.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:08:13 +0200 Photo GalleriesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories As regional security tensions continue to mount amid the protracted conflict between Iran and the US, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey came together on August 7 to sign a joint defense agreement in order to "strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression." https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-turkey-pakistan-defense-agreement-iran-war/33824220.html https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-turkey-pakistan-defense-agreement-iran-war/33824220.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:42:03 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories For much of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian officials arrived in Washington seeking weapons, ammunition, and financial support. Last week, however, the message was markedly different as Kyiv looked to be more a partner than a beggar. https://www.rferl.org/a/senate-briefing-ukrainian-commanders-drone-war-lessons-us-iran/33824145.html https://www.rferl.org/a/senate-briefing-ukrainian-commanders-drone-war-lessons-us-iran/33824145.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:47:18 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe 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 Stories As the conflict in the Persian Gulf continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-live-blog-trump-middle-east/33803414.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-live-blog-trump-middle-east/33803414.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories Russian officials make no secret of what a new law signed by President Vladimir Putin is intended to do: strip basic legal rights from many Russians living outside the country, and scare them into silence. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-law-foreign-agent-consular-restriction-exile/33823432.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-law-foreign-agent-consular-restriction-exile/33823432.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:40:50 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Interviews with residents and police units in Kherson were constantly interrupted by Russian drone attacks. Recent targets include a mechanic riding his bike to work and a garbage truck. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kherson-russian-drones-human-safari/33822793.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kherson-russian-drones-human-safari/33822793.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:16:17 +0200 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Ukraine's failure to intercept a single Russian missile during a large-scale overnight attack this week has raised fresh concerns over Kyiv's dwindling supply of air-defense interceptors as Moscow escalates its ballistic missile strikes on the nearly defenseless capital and other regions. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-patriots-russia-shortage-us-stockpile/33823317.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-patriots-russia-shortage-us-stockpile/33823317.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:00:13 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories A bipartisan coalition in the US Senate is working to keep momentum behind a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia and Iran, with lawmakers from both parties arguing that the legislation would send a broader message about American resolve against authoritarian powers. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-vote-war/33822958.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-iran-sanctions-bill-vote-war/33822958.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:34:10 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Reports of suspected hate-motivated attacks against Ukrainians in Poland have risen in recent months. Some Ukrainians say they no longer feel safe speaking their language in public. This comes amid political tensions between Ukraine and Poland that analysts say is fueling anti-Ukrainian sentiment. https://www.rferl.org/a/why-some-ukrainians-are-afraid-to-speak-their-language-in-poland/33822909.html https://www.rferl.org/a/why-some-ukrainians-are-afraid-to-speak-their-language-in-poland/33822909.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:59:44 +0200 VideosUkraineVideo ArchiveRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories German authorities are investigating two "very serious security incidents" at the Leipzig/Halle airport that temporarily suspended and diverted flights, raising suspicions of Russian involvement after similar incidents in recent years. https://www.rferl.org/a/german-police-probe-leipzig-airport-suspicious-flying-object/33822656.html https://www.rferl.org/a/german-police-probe-leipzig-airport-suspicious-flying-object/33822656.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:01:41 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Influential Republican Senator Rick Scott talks to RFE/RL about why he believes sanctions against Russia should be passed immediately, why Ukraine's military innovations matter for the United States, and why defeating Russia is central to deterring an increasingly coordinated authoritarian bloc. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-thug-senator-rick-scott-congress-russia-ukraine/33821929.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-thug-senator-rick-scott-congress-russia-ukraine/33821929.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 01:03:31 +0200 FeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Three officials from Afghanistan’s Taliban government are visiting Moldova after they were granted visas. The move has triggered an uproar in the European country. https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-moldova-afghanistan-controversy/33821883.html https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-moldova-afghanistan-controversy/33821883.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:26:40 +0200 AfghanistanFeaturesMoldovaThe Rundown Stories Prominent imprisoned political activist Mostafa Tajzadeh has issued a statement calling on Iranian authorities to "immediately end" executions warning that the accelerated pace of hangings risks pushing the country toward internal conflict and what he called the "Libyanization" of Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajzadeh-iran-executions-end/33821603.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajzadeh-iran-executions-end/33821603.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:05:26 +0200 Human RightsNewsIranThe Rundown Stories The growing strategic partnership between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea is a defining security challenge facing the US and its allies. Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery speaks to RFE/RL about says the West continues to underestimate both the scale of this alignment and the risks it poses. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-china-ukraine-north-korea-montgomery/33821449.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-china-ukraine-north-korea-montgomery/33821449.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 08:43:00 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iran has hanged two men accused of spying for Israel as the Islamic republic’s execution spree since the start of the war with the United States and Israel shows no signs of slowing down. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execute-behzad-safvat-israel-spy/33820765.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execute-behzad-safvat-israel-spy/33820765.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:31:28 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories Ukraine and Russia exchanged another wave of overnight drone strikes targeting logistics, energy, and civilian infrastructure, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced frustration with Western allies over delays in delivering urgently needed Patriot air defense systems and other military aid. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russian-drone-attack-wildberries/33820750.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russian-drone-attack-wildberries/33820750.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:52:56 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian drones struck a 178,600-square-meter Wildberries logistics hub in Russia's Samara region and a major oil refinery near Saratov. The warehouse attack is part of a sustained campaign targeting the Russian e-commerce giant's logistics network. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-drones-strike-wildberries-hub-in-samara-region/33820269.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-drones-strike-wildberries-hub-in-samara-region/33820269.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:44:55 +0200 RussiaUkraineVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Russian authorities said on August 2 that an improvised explosive device was detonated at a restaurant in central Moscow, killing three people and wounding 21 others, as investigators worked to determine who was behind the bombing. https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-russia-restaurant-bombing--kudrinkskaya-square/33820153.html https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-russia-restaurant-bombing--kudrinkskaya-square/33820153.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 10:47:27 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump said he has decided to "hold off" on any new attacks on Iran, saying "the perimeters" of a deal have been agreed to with Tehran and adding that Israel was joining him in the commitment. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-trump-attacks-hormuz/33820139.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-trump-attacks-hormuz/33820139.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:37:57 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East