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, 10 Apr 2026 03:20:35 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Recent images from around the world show far-reaching impacts of the fuel crisis caused by the war in the Middle East. https://www.rferl.org/a/energy-crisis-photos-war-israel-us-iran-fuel-oil-gas/33728553.html https://www.rferl.org/a/energy-crisis-photos-war-israel-us-iran-fuel-oil-gas/33728553.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:42:08 +0200 Photo GalleriesPhoto Galleries Amid reports Iran and the US are considering charging vessels a “toll” to transit the Strait of Hormuz, maritime insiders says such a move could backfire if other countries decide to charge ships for passing through natural maritime chokepoints. https://www.rferl.org/a/strait-of-hormuz-tolls-maritime-law/33727801.html https://www.rferl.org/a/strait-of-hormuz-tolls-maritime-law/33727801.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:57:12 +0200 FeaturesIranPicksThe Rundown Stories Images chart the transformation of a desolate coral island in the Persian Gulf into Tehran’s primary oil export hub. Kharg Island has become a key target in the US-Israeli war with Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/kharg-island-iran-us-israel-war-history/33722515.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kharg-island-iran-us-israel-war-history/33722515.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:35:33 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Despite powerful resistance and lengthy delays, a monument projected to become the “world’s largest” Jesus statue is taking shape near Yerevan with a newly scheduled completion date. https://www.rferl.org/a/worlds-largest-christ-statue-armenia-construction/33710649.html https://www.rferl.org/a/worlds-largest-christ-statue-armenia-construction/33710649.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:27:34 +0100 ArmeniaFeaturesPhoto GalleriesPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories A photojournalist gained access to a mountain stronghold in Iraq where exiled Iranian Kurds are preparing for conflict against the Iranian regime. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-iraq-kurds-militants-mountains-war/33704824.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-iraq-kurds-militants-mountains-war/33704824.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:07:00 +0100 IranFeaturesPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East A symbol with its origins in a 1954 convention on protecting cultural sites during war has been spotted on the rooftops of buildings in Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-israel-us-blue-shield-heritage-protection-photos/33700690.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-israel-us-blue-shield-heritage-protection-photos/33700690.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:54:44 +0100 IranFeaturesPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories Just months ago, weddings were celebrated around a statue to young lovers in Ukraine’s eastern city of Druzhkivka. Today the monument is surrounded by ever-increasing destruction as Russian forces use long-range first-person-view drones and aerial bombs on the industrial city. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-invasion-donbas-statue--love/33699624.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-invasion-donbas-statue--love/33699624.html Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:20:58 +0100 UkraineFeaturesPhoto GalleriesPhoto GalleriesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Futuristic laser weapons are now deployed with some militaries and are being demonstrated by Ukrainian startups. Industry insiders say the technology can counter the threat of cheap kamikaze drones, but there are significant caveats. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ukraine-russia-israel-laser-weapons-future-war/33696183.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ukraine-russia-israel-laser-weapons-future-war/33696183.html Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:15:34 +0100 IranFeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories America's ongoing Epic Fury is the latest military operation with its own name. Here's how that title differs from previous operation names, and where the tradition comes from. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-epic-fury-nickname-codenames/33693259.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-epic-fury-nickname-codenames/33693259.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:12:31 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Yaroslav Amosov walked away from a stellar mixed martial arts career to fight against Russian forces occupying his home town of Irpin. Four years on, he has just been signed to the world's premiere MMA promotion. https://www.rferl.org/a/yaroslav-amosov-ufc-mma-fighter-russian-invasion-ukraine/33683381.html https://www.rferl.org/a/yaroslav-amosov-ufc-mma-fighter-russian-invasion-ukraine/33683381.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:31:26 +0100 UkraineFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian mixed martial arts (MMA) champion Yaroslav Amosov walked away from a stellar MMA career to fight Russian forces occupying his home town of Irpin. While helping liberate the area in 2022, the former Bellator MMA Welterweight title holder recovered his championship belt from his mother’s basement. Four years on, he has returned to the octagon after signing with the UFC, the world's premier MMA promotion. https://www.rferl.org/a/the-ukrainian-mma-champion-who-fought-russia-and-now-battles-for-ufc-glory/33689642.html https://www.rferl.org/a/the-ukrainian-mma-champion-who-fought-russia-and-now-battles-for-ufc-glory/33689642.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:31:17 +0100 VideosUkraineVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories They call themselves "military penguins" and belong to a small but growing contingent from Ukraine's far-flung Antarctic research facility who have returned returned home to fight against Russia's ongoing invasion. RFE/RL speaks to Yuriy Lyshenko, whose journey spans 15,000 kilometers from the South Pole to the battlefields of his country. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-antarctica-russia-war-military-penguins/33692255.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-antarctica-russia-war-military-penguins/33692255.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:47:33 +0100 VideosUkraineRussia Invades Ukraine A US-made kamikaze drone that mimics the design of Iran's infamous Shahed 136 is currently deployed in the Middle East and could be used in military strikes. https://www.rferl.org/a/shahed-copy-drone-iran-america-lucas-conflict/33689700.html https://www.rferl.org/a/shahed-copy-drone-iran-america-lucas-conflict/33689700.html Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:50:47 +0100 Photo GalleriesIranThe Rundown Stories A February 22 football match between the Partizan Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) soccer teams was briefly suspended as riotous scenes broke out in the stands. That is par for the course when the two Serbian teams, and their legions of hardcore fans, meet.  https://www.rferl.org/a/partizan-red-star-rivalry-superliga-stadium-ultras/33686143.html https://www.rferl.org/a/partizan-red-star-rivalry-superliga-stadium-ultras/33686143.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:56:12 +0100 Photo GalleriesSerbiaThe Rundown Stories Soon after his most famous public monument was completed, Hossein Amanat was forced to flee Iran amid the Islamic revolution. The architect spoke to RFE/RL about watching his Azadi Tower being used as a backdrop for Islamic regime military parades. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-azadi-tower-interview-architect-hossein-amanat/33681569.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-azadi-tower-interview-architect-hossein-amanat/33681569.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:27:51 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East An online museum aims to make Ukraine’s heritage accessible to the public while many of the featured treasures remain impossible to view in person. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-archaeologists-museum-heritage-war/33677091.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-archaeologists-museum-heritage-war/33677091.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:19:12 +0100 UkraineFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Yevhen Tkachov, an aid worker with the NGO Proliska, has spent years helping Ukrainians evacuate from war-torn towns and villages. He's had more narrow escapes from enemy fire than he can count and has caught some harrowing scenes on camera as drones and missiles hit nearby. Each time, Tkachov has returned to the front to keep carrying out his humanitarian missions. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-aid-worker-dodging-drone-strikes/33677884.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-aid-worker-dodging-drone-strikes/33677884.html Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:09:31 +0100 UkraineVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories A small but growing contingent of Ukrainians have become veterans both of Ukraine's only Antarctic base, and the battle against the Russian invasion. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-vernadsky-base-antarctica-military-penguins/33671351.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-vernadsky-base-antarctica-military-penguins/33671351.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 07:32:04 +0100 UkraineFeaturesPicksRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories A Ukrainian aid worker risks drones, shells, and artillery to evacuate civilians from towns on the edge of Russia’s advance, returning again and again despite several close calls. https://www.rferl.org/a/yevhen-tkachov-ukraine-aid-worker-frontline-evacuations/33668627.html https://www.rferl.org/a/yevhen-tkachov-ukraine-aid-worker-frontline-evacuations/33668627.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:58:10 +0100 UkraineFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories An intersection in Tehran has been coopted as a vast visual propaganda platform as domestic and external crises mount for Iran's Islamic Republic. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-propaganda-billboard-tehran-enqelab-square/33663991.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-propaganda-billboard-tehran-enqelab-square/33663991.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:25:37 +0100 IranFeaturesPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories