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 Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:40:44 +0100 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Mohsen Rezaei, a former chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), has returned to the center of the country's security establishment at one of the most consequential moments in its history. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-security-chief-mohsen-rezaei/33894577.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-security-chief-mohsen-rezaei/33894577.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:17:38 +0100 Iran More than a decade after construction began, Turkmenistan’s TAPI gas pipeline is nearing its first customers in the northern Afghan city of Herat as the war in Iran restores interest in the gas supply line. https://www.rferl.org/a/tapi-pipeline-turkmenistan-afghanistan/33894541.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tapi-pipeline-turkmenistan-afghanistan/33894541.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:41:25 +0100 Afghanistan Hundreds, including children, were detained in a raid on an alternative youth gathering in central Moscow. Detainees reported beatings and being denied water and toilets. Some adults received draft notices or were pressured to sign army contracts. Police called it a "preventive operation." https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-police-detain-hundreds-of-youths/33894696.html https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-police-detain-hundreds-of-youths/33894696.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:14:09 +0100 Russia Ukrainian and Russian negotiators wrapped up the first of two days of US-brokered talks aimed at untangling Moscow's nearly 5-year-old all-out war on Ukraine, though it was unclear what progress there had been, if any. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-abu-dhabi-war-peace-talks/33894644.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-abu-dhabi-war-peace-talks/33894644.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 15:35:45 +0100 News In this week's briefing, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak is drilling down on two issues: why the EU cannot agree on an envoy for Russia-Ukraine peace talks and what safeguards Montenegro could face when it joins the bloc. https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-ukraine-peace-talks-envoy-montenegro-accession-safeguards/33894502.html https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-ukraine-peace-talks-envoy-montenegro-accession-safeguards/33894502.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:06:25 +0100 Wider Europe The United States sees a “real shot” at serious progress toward ending Russia’s war in Ukraine at talks between Washington, Kyiv and Moscow that kicked off in Abu Dhabi early on November 10, senior US officials told reporters, citing signs of growing willingness on both sides to reach a settlement. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-ukraine-peace-abu-dhabi-talks-russia-witkoff/33894497.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-ukraine-peace-abu-dhabi-talks-russia-witkoff/33894497.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 11:24:37 +0100 News They left Bangladesh hoping for a better life. Some were promised construction jobs in Russia. Others were offered opportunities to study. Instead, they found themselves on the front lines of Russia’s war against Ukraine. At least 20 Bangladeshi nationals have died fighting for Russian forces. Most were not trained soldiers, and say they were deceived into signing military contracts. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-recruiting-foreign-fighters-scheme/33892476.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-recruiting-foreign-fighters-scheme/33892476.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 08:45:03 +0100 Videos Sanctions and growing international isolation are closing off pathways for young Iranians hoping to study abroad. The suspension of major English-language exams in Iran has created yet another obstacle for prospective international students. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-english-test-abroad-sanctions/33893817.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-english-test-abroad-sanctions/33893817.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 07:45:49 +0100 Iran Recent reports that 20 Bangladeshis were killed on the frontlines in Russia's war against Ukraine have again raised accusations that Moscow is deceiving recruits and forcing them to fight. https://www.rferl.org/a/bangladeshis-fighting-for-russia-ukraine/33893744.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bangladeshis-fighting-for-russia-ukraine/33893744.html Tue, 10 Nov 2026 07:44:44 +0100 Russia For the first time since February, the US, Ukraine, and Russia meet on November 10-11 for talks aimed at ending the biggest war in Europe since 1945, but expectations of breakthrough are low. Here’s why. https://www.rferl.org/a/war-negotiations-abu-dhab-ukraine-russia-us/33893873.html https://www.rferl.org/a/war-negotiations-abu-dhab-ukraine-russia-us/33893873.html Mon, 09 Nov 2026 15:25:44 +0100 Ukraine A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at Russia's second-largest oil refinery in Kirishi, near St. Petersburg, on November 9, according to Leningrad regional Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko. The governor said the fire had been contained and that a woman was killed by falling drone debris. The refinery, which processes up to 20 million tons of crude oil annually, has been targeted by Ukrainian drones in previous attacks. https://www.rferl.org/a/rusian-refinery-hit-by-ukraine-drones/33893740.html https://www.rferl.org/a/rusian-refinery-hit-by-ukraine-drones/33893740.html Mon, 09 Nov 2026 11:25:30 +0100 Videos US President Donald Trump said he is "highly unlikely" to launch fresh air strikes against Iran as long as progress is seen taking place in the peace process. 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 Mon, 09 Nov 2026 05:58:42 +0100 Iran Moscow and Kyiv traded air strikes, leaving thousands of Ukrainians without power and an oil refinery in Russia's Leningrad region ablaze, while US President Donald Trump suggested that Kyiv may have to cede territory as part of any US-brokered peace deal. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-power-restore-russia-zaporizhzhya-abudhabi/33893359.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-power-restore-russia-zaporizhzhya-abudhabi/33893359.html Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:35 +0100 News Sources familiar with a notorious trial that led to 10 death sentences for people who joined protests in the central Iranian city of Isfahan in January have revealed new details of torture, rape threats, and glaring judicial irregularities in the case. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protesters-trial-death-sentences/33893306.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protesters-trial-death-sentences/33893306.html Sun, 08 Nov 2026 16:27:47 +0100 Iran Russian attacks on the power system in Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region have left 600,000 people without electricity as the Kremlin's campaign against energy targets continued on November 8. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-strikes-ukraine-energy/33893219.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-strikes-ukraine-energy/33893219.html Sun, 08 Nov 2026 10:47:30 +0100 News Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is seeking to "plunge the entire country into a blackout" by pounding more than a dozen Ukrainian regions with drones and missiles ahead of US-mediated talks with Moscow next week. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-strikes-kyiv-ukraine-trilateral-talks/33892815.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-strikes-kyiv-ukraine-trilateral-talks/33892815.html Sat, 07 Nov 2026 11:10:07 +0100 News Recent satellite imagery captures the reshaping of air bases throughout Russia and Crimea as the threat from Ukrainian strikes changes how Moscow houses and protects its military aircraft. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-air-bases-anti-drone-shelters-ukraine-invasion/33892800.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-air-bases-anti-drone-shelters-ukraine-invasion/33892800.html Sat, 07 Nov 2026 09:15:07 +0100 Russia Ukraine hopes a temporary cease-fire that enabled humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky could serve as a model for wider de-escalation efforts, Ukrainian officials said on November 6. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-oleshky-lubinets-melania-trump-ceasefire/33892549.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-oleshky-lubinets-melania-trump-ceasefire/33892549.html Fri, 06 Nov 2026 22:15:45 +0100 News The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has long been at odds with the law enforcement network tasked with tackling corruption. The investigative unit of RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, Schemes, reveals how the SBU sought unfettered access to the entire internal database of the High Anti-Corruption Court. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-sbu-anti-corruption-court-database-access-schemes-investigation/33892471.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-sbu-anti-corruption-court-database-access-schemes-investigation/33892471.html Fri, 06 Nov 2026 21:34:37 +0100 Schemes: Investigating Ukraine Sanctions and growing international isolation are cutting key pathways for young Iranians with dreams of studying abroad. US and British English language-testing services have been suspended in Iran, creating another obstacle for prospective international students. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-s-isolation-closes-doors-for-young-people-hoping-to-build-a-future-abroad/33892509.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-s-isolation-closes-doors-for-young-people-hoping-to-build-a-future-abroad/33892509.html Fri, 06 Nov 2026 19:04:15 +0100 Iran