https://www.rferl.org/z/645 The latest news from RFE/RL's broadcast region. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/645 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:19:47 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL President Vladimir Putin said Russia would seize ships belonging to European countries if they tried to sell cargo confiscated from Russia-linked vessels suspected of belonging to Moscow's so-called shadow fleet. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-russia-shadow-fleet-sanctions/33827667.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-russia-shadow-fleet-sanctions/33827667.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:04:56 +0200 NewsRussiaRussia 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 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:30:00 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories Russia used North Korean missiles in a deadly attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of city of Zaporizhzhya, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on August 11. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-north-korean-missile-attack/33827030.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-north-korean-missile-attack/33827030.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:58:10 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories A former US Marine who has been held in a Russian prison since 2022 and had been reported to be in serious medical condition in recent weeks has been freed and is being flown back to the United States. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-us-former-marine-robert-gilman-freed-medical-/33826753.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-us-former-marine-robert-gilman-freed-medical-/33826753.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:13:23 +0200 NewsRussiaThe Rundown Stories Opposition Belarusian politician Alyaksandr Milinkevich, who ran for president in 2006, has died following an illness aged 79, according to a social media post by his stepson. https://www.rferl.org/a/alyaksandr-milinkevich-belarus-opposition-leader-dies-79-/33826702.html https://www.rferl.org/a/alyaksandr-milinkevich-belarus-opposition-leader-dies-79-/33826702.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:34:30 +0200 NewsBelarusThe Rundown Stories The US House of Representatives moved to advance a sweeping Russia and Iran sanctions package on August 10, just days after the Senate approved it by an overwhelming 86-11 vote, https://www.rferl.org/a/33826098.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33826098.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:23:41 +0200 NewsIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories Russia's Supreme Court barred the liberal Yabloko party from the ballot in parliamentary elections next month, blocking what would have been the only group that is calling for an end to Moscow's war against Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-duma-elections-yabloko-war-barred/33826059.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-duma-elections-yabloko-war-barred/33826059.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:33:09 +0200 NewsRussiaRussia Invades Ukraine Russia said at least 13 people, including a child, were killed in Ukrainian attacks on targets in the central region of Tatarstan, one of Kyiv's deadliest single attacks since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-tatarstan/33825739.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-tatarstan/33825739.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:50:50 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump appeared to back off threats of immediate military action against Iran, despite ongoing disputes with Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting he would allow economic pressure to force the Islamic republic to make a long-elusive peace deal. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-war--economic-pressure/33825694.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-war--economic-pressure/33825694.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:13:15 +0200 News Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Belgrade since being elected in 2019 has produced few significant results while underlining Serbia’s ongoing efforts to maintain ties with both Moscow and the West. https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-seeks-to-maintain-balancing-act-as-zelenskyy-visits-belgrade/33824814.html https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-seeks-to-maintain-balancing-act-as-zelenskyy-visits-belgrade/33824814.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:16:55 +0200 NewsUkraineSerbiaThe Rundown Stories The US Senate on August 7 overwhelmingly approved legislation aimed at tightening economic pressure on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-senate-trump-graham-sanctions/33824412.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-senate-trump-graham-sanctions/33824412.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:53:16 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineThe 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 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 BROVARY, Ukraine -- Russian overnight drone and ballistic missile strikes killed at least 17 people in the Kyiv region, as Ukraine warned of critical air defense shortages and urged its allies to hasten deliveries of urgently needed air defense missiles. https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-drone-and-missile-barrage-on-ukraine/33822483.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-drone-and-missile-barrage-on-ukraine/33822483.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:50:58 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline 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 Ukrainian drones struck two more warehouses used by the online retailer Wildberries, as well as a third in the Moscow region that killed five people as Russia and Ukraine continued exchanging cross-border strikes with US-mediated peace talks stalled. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-hits-wildberries-warehouses/33821556.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-hits-wildberries-warehouses/33821556.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:40:16 +0200 NewsUkraineThe Rundown Headline 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 Iranian authorities have executed a 19-year-old man who was arrested during nationwide protests that began in late December and spread across the country in January, according to a US-based rights group. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-executions-kheirkhahan-outcry/33820267.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-executions-kheirkhahan-outcry/33820267.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:51:07 +0200 Human RightsNewsThe Rundown Headline 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