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Wider Europe Briefing: What To Expect At The EU’s October Summit
In this week's briefing, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak drills down on one issue: the upcoming EU summit, with a focus on Ukraine, Russia sanctions, and EU enlargement.
Germany To Start Nord Stream ‘War Crime’ Trial With Prosecutors Blaming Ukrainian ‘State Authorities’
After four years of speculation, leaks, and briefings by anonymous sources, the world is finally about to hear evidence given publicly under oath in a German courtroom about how the Nord Stream gas pipelines were blown up -- in a case that could prove politically explosive.
Trump Defends Russian Diesel Deal Despite Backlash
US President Donald Trump, in the face of sharp criticism from officials in Ukraine, Europe, and even his Republican party, defended his decision to allow Russian diesel exports and insisted an energy cease-fire between Kyiv and Moscow is in place despite a lack of confirmation from either side.
Afghan Women Build Businesses As Taliban Restrictions Shrink Their Options
Despite sweeping restrictions on women’s employment, some Afghan women are finding ways to build businesses and earn a living.
Prominent Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Arrested
A prominent human rights lawyer and activist has been arrested in Iran, sources close to him told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda.
Zelenskyy Says Yandex Strikes Crippled Pro-Kremlin Bots But Tech Experts Question Evidence
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine's recent attacks on Russian tech giant Yandex’s data centers have resulted in fewer Internet bots promoting pro-Kremlin hate, a claim that has been disputed by many technology researchers.
Zelenskyy Says Russian Strikes Continue Amid Trump Cease-Fire Call
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of striking an energy plant after US leader Donald Trump's surprise announcement of an “energy cease-fire,” while Moscow remained silent on any suggestion of a truce.
Trump Announces Energy Cease-Fire Between Ukraine, Russia As Countries Trade Strikes
US President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy cease-fire, following his earlier decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports and his subsequent call for a change in leadership in Kyiv.
As Russian Arms Exports Slide, Central Asia Shops Elsewhere
Central Asian nations are increasingly turning to India, China, Turkey, and Europe for military equipment to reduce their dependence on Russia. Analysts note that this diversification offers greater political flexibility but could create long-term logistical and operational challenges.
House Republicans Move To Block Trump’s Russia Diesel Deal
Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick plans to force a House vote on legislation blocking Russian oil purchases, challenging President Donald Trump's decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports as lawmakers warn the move could help finance Moscow's war against Ukraine.
Russian Strikes Kill At Least 20 In Zaporizhzhya, Disrupt Power In Kyiv, Officials Say
A Russian strike on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya killed at least 11 people, including three children, and wounded several others on October 10, local authorities said, as Russia launched a large-scale overnight drone attack across Ukraine.
Trump Makes Deal With Putin On Diesel Exports. Ukraine Calls It A ‘Gift’
US President Donald Trump said he reached an agreement with President Vladimir Putin to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, a move Ukraine immediately criticized as a "gift" to the Kremlin.
How Iranian Operatives Used AI To Publish Fake Stories In US Media
OpenAI has said Iranian operatives used ChatGPT to create fake journalist personas and push anti-American narratives. RFE/RL looks at one of the personas.
Head Of Russian Pro-War Blog Detained In Montenegro
The head of a leading Russian pro-war blog linked to the country’s Defense Ministry has been detained in Montenegro, along with several other people who work for the blog.
Impoverished Afghans Sell Kidneys On The Black Market ‘Out Of Sheer Desperation’
Impoverished Afghans are illegally selling their kidneys to repay debts and buy food. The selling of organs comes as the war-torn country grapples with one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Too Soon? Swaths Of Chernobyl-Affected Land In Belarus To Lose ‘Contaminated’ Status
A recent announcement that 177 cities, towns and villages will lose their “contaminated” status on January 1, 2027 affects some 566,400 people from a total of 930,600 living on Belarusian territory that was contaminated by the 1986 nuclear accident in Soviet Ukraine.
US, Ukraine Set For Talks In Miami Amid Onslaught Of Russian Air Strikes
The US and Ukraine will hold talks in Miami on October 9 to discuss proposals aimed at ending Russia’s war vital pieces of infrastructure in Kyiv and other citiies ahead of winter.
Rubio Warns Russia’s War Could Spill Beyond Ukraine’s Borders
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Russia's war against Ukraine is at a stalemate but could escalate into a broader regional conflict if the deadlock pushes either side toward increasingly dangerous actions.
Exclusive: A Russian Blueprint For A Cold, Dark Winter In Ukraine
As Ukraine prepares for its fifth winter since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a document obtained by RFE/RL sets out a potential blueprint for a campaign by Moscow to inflict enormous suffering on civilians with attacks aimed at sharply cutting supplies of power, heat, and water.
More Drones, More Missiles, No Air Defenses: Moldova In The Cross Fire Of Russia’s War On Ukraine
Moldova saw more Russian drones crash on its territory in August than it did over all of 2025. Moldovan authorities are increasingly rattled—but there’s little a cash-strapped government can do beyond complaining diplomatically.
Dozens Killed In Russian Strike On Passenger Buses In Kramatorsk
Dozens of people were killed in a Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on October 8, according to local authorities, a day after another deadly barrage killed at least 25 people across Ukraine.
No Safe Haven: How Iran And Russia Target Exile Enemies
Authoritarian states such as Russia and Iran are increasingly pursuing their opponents even after they find shelter in apparently safe Western countries. RFE/RL talks to some of those affected.
In Athens, Rubio Says West At ‘Inflection Point’ Amid Russia, Iran Threats
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for a renewal of the Western alliance based on national sovereignty, military strength, and a shared commitment to values.
EU Says Kosovo’s Changes To War Crimes Court Law Violate International Obligations
The European Union has expressed “deep concern” over Kosovo’s adoption of legislation that seeks to narrow the jurisdiction of a Hague-based war crimes court, saying the changes violate the country’s international obligations toward the bloc.
Rubio In Athens Warns Iran It Will Never Have A Nuclear Weapon
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran will never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, declaring that preventing Tehran from doing so is a red line for President Donald Trump.
Two Decades On, Politkovskaya’s Daughter Says Little Has Changed In Russia Since Her Mother’s Murder
Two decades after the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, a tenacious investigative reporter who exposed the brutality of Russia's war in Chechnya and documented how President Vladimir Putin curtailed democracy in Russia, her daughter Vera says little has changed in the country's political climate.
Russia Missile Blasts Ukraine Apartment Block, Killing At Least 22
Russian missile and drone strikes pounded Ukraine on Russian leader Vladimir Putin's birthday, leaving dozens of people dead or injured in one of "the most vile" attacks in recent times, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Rubio In Iceland Signals Deeper NATO Push As Russia, China Challenge Arctic Security
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signaled a renewed American push to strengthen security in the Arctic, warning that US adversaries and competitors are already acting in a region of growing strategic importance.
Kosovo Elects President After Opposition Agrees To Last-Minute Deal
Parliament elected Justina Shiroka Pula as Kosovo's new president late on October 6 following a last-minute political deal that secured lawmakers' approval of legal changes restricting the powers of a Hague-based war crimes court.
A Lawmaker’s Claim That ‘Ukraine Is Losing’ And Should Consider Compromise Sparks Debate
A prominent lawmaker has sparked controversy by saying Ukraine is losing the war and should consider making controversial compromises with Moscow. An opposition party ejected Oleksiy Honcharenko from its parliamentary faction, but his remarks may fuel further debate amid relentless Russian attacks.
Iran’s Medicine Shortages Fuel Black Market For Essential Drugs
Iran’s worsening medicine shortages are driving patients to a booming black market, where essential drugs can cost several times official prices. Cancer and chronic disease patients face soaring costs, while authorities struggle with imports, currency shortages, and supply disruptions.
Death At Russian Plague Lab: How Much Should We Worry?
A suspected case of pneumonic plague killing a laboratory technician in Russia has sparked global alarm about the possibility of wider transmission. RFE/RL spoke to Brendan Wren, a professor of microbial pathogenesis, about the situation and Russia's moves to deal with it.
Exclusive: Russian Computers, US Phones, Hunter Biden’s Laptop, Cracked By Powerful Russian-Made Software. Who’s Behind It?
Powerful phone hacking software built by Russian-owned Oxygen Forensics was used by dozens of US and European government agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service. One former agent used it to pull thousands of hidden files from Hunter Biden’s laptop.
‘Don’t You Have A Smart TV?’: Iranian General’s Smartwatch Defense Fuels Security Concerns
A photo of Brigadier General Gholamreza Jalali, the head of Iran's Passive Defense Organization, wearing a smartwatch has sparked a backlash. His response, that it's peacetime and people have smart TVs at home, has only fueled criticism of lax security among Iran's top brass.
Protesters, Police Clash As Vote On Kosovo War Crimes Court Stalls
Police fired tear gas at protesters outside Kosovo’s parliament on the evening of October 5 as a dispute over proposed restrictions on a Hague-based war crimes court became entangled with a last-minute political standoff over electing the country’s next president.
Siberian Anti-Plague Institute Staff Isolated After Worker’s Death
The United States is monitoring reports of a suspected case of pneumonic plague in Russia after the death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in the Siberian region of Irkutsk, as some US political figures call for sweeping travel restrictions involving Russia.
Rubio Heads To NATO Allies As Russian Threat, Middle East War Shape Agenda
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to Iceland, Greece, and Portugal on October 5-8 for talks on security, defense, energy, economic cooperation, and technology as NATO allies face growing security concerns over Russia’s military activity and continued Middle East instability.
Nationalist Parties, Dodik Dominate Bosnian Election Amid Low Turnout
Milorad Dodik, the Russia-friendly former leader of Bosnia-Herzegovina's Serbian-led entity, declared victory for his party in the region, with nationalist forces also scoring wins in Bosnia's complex electoral system -- results likely to keep tensions high in the country and the region.
Bosnian Elections Pitted Pro-Western Against Nationalist Forces
Citizens in Bosnia-Herzegovina are casting their votes in elections to various bodies in the country’s multi-layered political system on October 4, with some candidates pushing for increased efforts at joining the European Union and NATO.
Families Torn Apart, Trade At A Standstill: One Year Of The Afghan-Pakistan Border Closure
The prolonged closure of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has brought cross-border trade to a standstill, leaving tens of thousands of people on both sides without work. It has also disrupted commercial activity and strained longstanding family and social ties.
Russia Strikes Kyiv Bridge As Merz Visits Ukrainian Capital
Russia has vowed to intensify its relentless strikes against Kyiv and warned foreign diplomats and other visitors to leave the country or be exposed to “mortal danger,” while Ukraine's leader said his country will respond to the Kremlin's deadly air campaign.
US Lawmakers Target Serbia’s Democratic Backsliding, Ties To Russia, China, Iran
A bipartisan, bicameral group of US lawmakers is pressing for tougher action on what they describe as democratic backsliding, corruption, and growing Russian, Chinese, and Iranian influence in Serbia, just weeks before snap parliamentary elections.
‘We’ll Die This Autumn’: Ruined And Flooded, Russian-Occupied Oleshky In Ukraine Starves Under A ‘Total Blockade’
People in Russian-held Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region have endured war, occupation, and devastating flooding. Now, trapped by land mines and cut off from basic supplies, they face "hell," starving in a virtual ghost town, Ukrainian officials and volunteers say.
‘Russia Is Behaving Like A Rogue State’: Historian Margaret MacMillan On The Risk Of A Wider Global Conflict
Historian Margaret MacMillan warns that increasingly interconnected wars are increasing the risk of a wider conflict, as she discusses Ukraine’s future, Putin’s Russia, NATO’s vulnerabilities, and an emerging “new world disorder.”
US Targets Russia’s A7 Network In New Iran Sanctions Push
US authorities designated the A7 financial network as a "significant transnational criminal organization," the latest in a series of steps by Western authorities to try and choke the sprawling Kremlin-backed sanctions-evading scheme.
Tajikistan Begins Receiving Iranian Oil, Testing New Supply Route And Extent Of US Sanctions
Tajikistan has begun receiving oil and petroleum products from Iran in a move to diversify supplies long dominated by Russia. The volume, price, and route of the shipments remain unknown, raising questions about the commercial scale of the trade and potential US secondary sanctions risks.
After Russia’s Elections, An Expert On Fraud Is Arrested And Reportedly Beaten
In the days between the elections and his arrest, Aleksandr Kynev had pointed to evidence of falsifications benefitting the United Russia party. Some analysts see his arrest and reported beating as a sign of a power struggle pitting security agencies against political operatives in Putin’s Kremlin.
Interview: Iraq’s Foreign Minister Urges US, Iran Back To Talks
As the conflict between the United States and Iran reverberates across the region, Iraq is facing growing pressure from the war's economic and security fallout, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told RFE/RL in Washington.
‘Smart Barbed Wire’: Ukraine Deploys Cable-Snipping Anti-Drone Device
Ukraine is now using a fence-like device designed to snag and cut the cables of fiberoptic drones, weapons that have confounded militaries throughout the world.
Kyrgyz Activist Gets 2 Years For Criticizing Growing Chinese Presence
The Lenin District Court in Bishkek found activist and politician Mavlyan Askarbekov guilty and sentenced to two years in prison on offenses related to a law on incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious, or interregional hatred, a verdict he called "absurd."
Oil Exports Find A Way Past Iranian Attacks, But Refinery Bottleneck Persists
Exports of crude oil from the Middle East hit their highest level in September since the war with Iran began, reinforcing a trend of increased supplies despite Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to analysis of shipping and commodity market data by industry observers.
Pakistan Targets Afghan Border Regions With Another Round Of Air Strikes
Pakistan carried out a round of air strikes on October 1 on two Afghan provinces near the border based on "credible evidence" of militant activity in the area.
Will Iran ‘Flex Its Muscles’ In Iraq After US Military Pullout?
The end of the United States’ two-decade-long military presence in Iraq has raised fears of a security vacuum. Neighboring Iran and its allies in Iraq, experts say, could attempt to exploit the situation.
Tbilisi Rebukes Iranian Envoy Over Social Media Post On Canonized Georgian Queen
Georgia's Foreign Ministry has summoned Iran's ambassador after he announced plans to publish his own research into Queen Ketevan. The 17th-century monarch was tortured and executed in Persia, and the Georgian Orthodox Church venerates her as a saint.
‘Exhausted’ Afghan Refugees Get Extension At Camp In Qatar As US Lawmakers Urge Action
Afghan refugees being held at a camp in Qatar have been told it will be kept open for another nine months after a deadline for its closure passed, but they face continuing uncertainty over their fate amid an ongoing bar on entry to the United States.
Latvian Defense Minister Says Russia’s Hybrid Attacks, Not Nuclear Rhetoric, Are The Main Concern
Latvia’s defense minister has played down any immediate danger after Russia’s latest nuclear warning to NATO over Kaliningrad.