Features

• December 10, 2025

  The Iranian Border Is Increasingly Deadly For Afghans

  Iranian border guards shot and killed at least 10 Afghans who entered Iran illegally in early December, according to Taliban officials. The incident underscored how dangerous the Iranian border has become for Afghans.

• December 10, 2025

  The Problems at Baikonur 31/6: A Launch Accident Is (Another) Headache For Russia's Space Program

  Russia's space program has taken a drubbing in recent years, its reputation battered by corruption scandals, shrinking budgets, embarrassing accidents, and accusations that its managers put politics above science. A launch pad mishap at Baikonur is the latest blow.

• December 09, 2025

  The Donbas And Beyond: The Territorial Barriers To Peace In Ukraine

  Russia wants all of the Donbas, and more. Ukraine is loath to cede any land to Moscow, let alone areas Kyiv’s forces control. The US is pushing for an end to the war. Here’s a look at the tense issue of territorial control in Ukraine, perhaps the highest hurdle on the path to peace.

• December 09, 2025

  Wider Europe Briefing: Hitting Belarusian Balloons And Montenegro's EU Prospects

  In this week's briefing, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak drills down on two issues: hitting Belarus’s balloons and EU views on Montenegro and other accession hopefuls.

• December 09, 2025

  Belarus Accused Of Sabotaging Lithuanian Airspace As EU Moves Toward New Sanctions

  The EU is preparing new sanctions on Belarus after hundreds of weather balloons crossed into Lithuania, disrupting airports and prompting temporary border closures. Vilnius says the balloons are used for smuggling and sabotage, and pressure on Minsk is set to escalate.

• December 09, 2025

  China-Backed Bridge Project In Belgrade Draws Scrutiny Over Hidden Contracts

  Construction on the new Sava bridge kicked off in Belgrade, but loopholes and workarounds used to grant contracts for the project are raising transparency and construction quality concerns.

• December 09, 2025

  Key Takeaways As White House, Congress Push Foreign Policy Plans

  Washington’s new National Security Strategy and a major defense bill in Congress lay out sharply different visions for American foreign policy, prompting allies and rivals alike to reassess the US role in the world.

• December 08, 2025

  One Year After Assad's Fall: Iran's Strategic Collapse In Syria

  One year after Assad's fall, Iran grapples with the collapse of its key regional ally. Tehran lost up to 50 billion dollars invested over a decade, its Mediterranean access, and supply routes to Hezbollah. Iran seeks to rebuild influence, but is there a way back?

• December 07, 2025

  Lavrov's Kyiv Footprint: How A Russian Foundation Financed Pro-Kremlin Activities in Ukraine

  Funds were allocated in an effort to collect information supporting the Kremlin's war-crimes claims and undermine Kyiv’s defense against the invasion.

• December 06, 2025

  Can Europe Push China To Help End Russia's War In Ukraine?

  Experts interviewed by RFE/RL doubt Beijing will honor European appeals to influence Moscow amid a new push to end the war in Ukraine, even though the EU is one of China’s largest trading partners.

• December 05, 2025

  Hedgehogs In The Fog: The Unearthly New Armor Spotted In Ukraine

  Photos emerging from the battlefields of Ukraine show a strange, spiky new "hedgehog" armor being used on tanks and armored vehicles to protect the hardware from drone strikes.

• December 05, 2025

  How A Ukrainian Drone Strike On Russia Has Crippled Kazakh Oil Exports

  A drone strike on an oil-loading facility off Russia’s Black Sea coast has ignited a diplomatic spat between Ukraine and Kazakhstan, exposed the Central Asian country’s reliance on a single oil pipeline for exports, and possibly endangered gasoline supplies in Europe.

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