Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty pinned «RFE/RL has been designated by the Russian government as an Undesirable Organization. You can still read and listen to us, follow, and watch us safely. However, if you are in Russia and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person who resides permanently…»

RFE/RL has been designated by the Russian government as an Undesirable Organization. You can still read and listen to us, follow, and watch us safely. However, if you are in Russia and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person who resides permanently in Russia, please note that you may risk fines or imprisonment for: · Sharing and liking our stories · Commenting on RFE/RL content · Posting RFE/RL content · Sending messages to us Learn more 👉 https://www.rferl.org/a/radio-liberty-undesirable-designation-russia-explainer/32828027.html

At least for now, Russian President Vladimir Putin is probably not interested in a cease-fire in Ukraine -- but sending signals to the West about such an interest is a different matter. https://www.rferl.org/a/gutterman-week-in-russia-truce-ukraine/32802540.html

A Russian singer arrived in Israel while his bandmates remained in detention in Thailand on January 31, amid efforts by Moscow to have the musicians deported to Russia. The band, Bi-2, is known for opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

🔸 ЗМІ повідомляють про падіння літака Іл-76 у Білгородській області РФ. Місцеві канали публікують відео із нібито катастрофою. Судячи з силуету, це справді Іл-76, він падає з великою швидкістю та вибухає. Також неофіційно повідомляють про нібито 63 осіб на борту. На тлі цих новин губернатор області В'ячеслав Гладков заявив про «подію» і роботу МНС, утім офіційних деталей поки нема. До цього повідомляв про ракетну небезпеку і роботу ППО

Local Russian media channels are reporting an IL-76 aircraft crash in Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine. Videos posted by local public channels allegedly show the moment of the crash. Judging by the visuals, it indeed was an IL-76 that was nose diving at high speed towards the ground, which is followed by an explosion. Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the crash of this type of an airplane claiming there were 65 Ukrainian POWs on board along with six crew members and three accompanying officers. According to the Russian officials, the Ukrainians were being taken to Belgorod for a prisoner exchange. It is impossible to verify the information. No reasons for the crash have been given and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the situation.

Protests in Russia's Bashkortostan region continued today. More than 10 people have been detained after hundreds gathered on the central square in Ufa to support jailed Bashkir activist Fail Alsynov.

Pakistani warplanes launched air strikes targeting what Islamabad said were "terrorist bases" early on January 18 in neighboring Iran. A local Iranian official said at least four children and three women were killed. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-pakistan-strikes-baluchistan/32780717.html

Russia reportedly lost a rare A-50 radar aircraft over the Sea of Azov, with Ukraine's Air Force claiming to have shot it down. Check our updated interactive map of Crimea for this & more on Ukrainian strikes in and around the occupied peninsula: https://www.rferl.org/a/crimea-ukraine-interactive-map-satellite/32480862.html?markerId=413

A leading Kyrgyz news agency's office has been raided and equipment confiscated. The outlet faces criminal charges over an article it published on the war in Ukraine.

Heshmati announced on Facebook last week that she had been lashed 74 times because of a social media post she made in April in which she could be seen without a hijab. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-women-defiant-flogging-hijab-violation/32767635.html

“[E]ither you get a grip and just do this work like a robot, or you lose your mind,” one volunteer said of helping a dying woman in a Russian-occupied region of Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-antiwar-volunteers-ukraine-aid-threats-escape/32767064.html

Remains of a missile that Ukraine suggests was supplied to Russia by North Korea were shown to journalists after recent strikes on Kharkiv. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-north-korea-war-missiles-kn-23/32765450.html

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainians lined up to join the armed forces in an outburst of patriotism that both inspired the Western world and defied Moscow’s expectations. Now, two years later, amid horrific trench warfare, lack of recent progress on the battlefield, and with tens of thousands of soldiers dead or wounded, the enthusiasm to enlist is clearly waning. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-mobilization-bill-military-government-tensions/32758568.html

UPDATE: At least 103 have died and more than 170 others injured in the explosions. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-explosions-soleimani-death-anniversary/32758522.html

At least 53 people have been killed in two explosions during commemorations of the fourth anniversary of the death of Qasem Soleimani, a former commander of Iran's elite Quds Force killed, Iranian state-run media have reported. Video via @radiofarda

At least five people were killed and dozens wounded in Russian drone and missiles strikes in and around Kyiv as well as Kharkiv on January 2 that Ukraine’s military said were similar in scale to a massive Russian attack just days earlier. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-explosions-kyiv-russian-missile-drone-attack/32755915.html

Kyiv was rocked by explosions early on January 2 with Ukraine’s military saying air defense systems had repelled a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian capitals hours after Russian military drones were reported to have targeted the city. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-explosions-kyiv-russian-missile-drone-attack/32755915.html