Here are some of the highlights produced by RFE/RL's team of correspondents, multimedia editors, and visual journalists over the past seven days, including content from Gandhara, the RFE/RL website focusing exclusively on developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
'Shocking. Terrifying. Hopeless.' Searing New Film Documents How The Ukraine War Is Tearing Russian Families Apart
A new Current Time film looks at how many Russian families have been ripped apart by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “I spoke with each person separately because getting them to speak together didn’t work," filmmaker Andrei Loshak says of the heartrending interviews that form the core of the film. By Igor Sevryugin, Anna Malgina, and Dmitry Volchek
Dogs Of War: How Saving Animals In Ukraine 'Brought Me Back To Life'
Two women are offering a lifeline for stray dogs and pets abandoned by their owners who were forced to flee war in eastern Ukraine. After losing her home in the Luhansk region and barely escaping with her life, Alina Metyolkina says volunteering at an animal shelter has brought her "back to life." By Amos Chapple
Iran Moves To Tighten Abortion Restrictions
Iran is moving to tighten restrictions on abortion following November’s adoption of a law aimed at boosting the country’s population. Women’s rights activists and doctors say the measures will have bad health implications for women. By Golnaz Esfandiari
Why Resuming Ukrainian Grain Shipments Won't Be Easy
The world needs Ukraine’s grain. While Russia says the reason Ukraine can't export grain is because it has mined its own ports -- and Russia has offered to lift the blockade in exchange for the West lifting economic sanctions -- European leaders accuse Russia of blackmail and using food as a weapon. They’re discussing complex solutions to bring Ukrainian grain back to the world's markets -- fast. As the war rages on, global wheat prices are skyrocketing, and there are fears that food insecurity could bring further unrest to countries that are already troubled. By Carlos Coelho and Mike Eckel
Calls For International Inquiry After Deadly Crackdown In Uzbekistan
The United States and UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet have called for an independent investigation into a deadly crackdown on protesters in Uzbekistan's autonomous Karakalpakstan region. At least 18 people were killed after protests erupted on July 1 over a proposal to abolish the territory's constitutional right to secede. (WARNING: Viewers may find the content of this video disturbing.) By RFE/RL's Uzbek Service
In Ukraine's 'Painted Village' As War Nears
Petrykivka painters are continuing their craft as missiles hammer eastern Ukraine and the town's historic art collection is transported to safety. By Amos Chapple
Corruption Island: The Lavish Properties Of Former Kazakh Leader Nazarbaev And His Family
In Kazakhstan's capital of Nur-Sultan, Nursultan Nazarbaev and his family own a remarkable collection of palaces and grandiose properties, including a 12-hectare artificial island. This new investigation comes after a pair of RFE/RL reports that revealed more of the family's palatial properties. By Manas Qaiyrtaiuly and RFE/RL's Kazakh Service
Russian Conscript Captured In Ukraine Faces Uncertain Future Back Home
Andrei Pozdeyev, a 19-year-old Russian conscript soldier captured in Ukraine, has finally returned home. His family fears for the psychological impact the experience will have on him. By Siberia.Realities
SEE ALSO: Parents of Russian Conscripts Fear Their Sons Will Be Pressured Into Joining The War In Ukraine
A Day In The Life Of Exiled Belarusian Leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya
She made a lightning ascent from unknown housewife to become the face of a revolution. Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya was forced into exile in 2020, amid a brutal crackdown on mass protests after a presidential election result that was widely seen as falsified. Since then, she has led a tireless campaign seeking diplomatic support to isolate the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who kept his grip on power with Kremlin support and then made Belarus a launchpad for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. RFE/RL spent a day with Tsikhanouskaya during a visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on June 21. By Ray Furlong and RFE/RL's Belarus Service