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 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:30:40 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Over the past eight years, at least 20 foreigners have helped raise and educate two boys believed to be the sons of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his purported partner Alina Kabayeva, most of them from Western countries, RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit has determined. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-purported-sons-western-nannies-language-tutors/33767499.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-purported-sons-western-nannies-language-tutors/33767499.html Thu, 28 May 2026 17:42:38 +0200 RussiaFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineSystema: Investigating RussiaThe Rundown Stories In November, Systema revealed that the Kremlin was obscuring Putin's location by using three nearly identical offices in different parts of Russia. Until March 18, however, the Kremlin had posted no footage from any of the three offices for more than five months, stretching back to early October. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-identical-offices-trickery-location-russia/33710019.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-identical-offices-trickery-location-russia/33710019.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:37:34 +0100 Systema: Investigating RussiaFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories A trove of messages, photos, and videos sent and received by a Russian officer and examined by Schemes and Systema, RFE/RL's Ukrainian and Russian investigative units, provides granular evidence pointing to the pervasive role of bribery in the military amid Moscow’s war against Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-military-corruption-ukraine-war-bribery/33692902.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-military-corruption-ukraine-war-bribery/33692902.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:37:59 +0100 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineSchemes: Investigating UkraineSystema: Investigating RussiaThe Rundown Stories RFE/RL’s Ukrainian and Russian investigative units obtained three years of correspondence sent and received by a top Russian general fighting in Ukraine. Jokes about torture, mutilation, and executions of POWs abound. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-general-gory-messages-war-exclusive/33683458.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-general-gory-messages-war-exclusive/33683458.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 20:26:17 +0100 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree that requires many foreign men who seek permanent residency or citizenship to join the Russian military, RFE/RL has found. The unusual measure is pushing migrants who have built lives in Russia to choose between conscription and leaving the country. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-decree-russian-citizensip-residence-permit/33621628.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-decree-russian-citizensip-residence-permit/33621628.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:54:13 +0100 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineSystema: Investigating RussiaThe Rundown Headline Russian President Vladimir Putin has three nearly identical offices in different parts of the country and the Kremlin has been dishonest about his location many times in recent years, Systema, RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit, has discovered. https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-trickery-putin-offices-secrecy-investigation/33586451.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-trickery-putin-offices-secrecy-investigation/33586451.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 12:16:41 +0100 Systema: Investigating RussiaFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades Ukraine Thousands of Cubans have been recruited to travel to Russia—and many have ended up fighting in Ukraine, possibly under false pretenses. A 41-year-old, multi-lingual travel agent from Russian provincial city is among those involved in a shady recruitment network, Systema found. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-cubans-recruiting-mercenaries/33558283.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-cubans-recruiting-mercenaries/33558283.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:43:56 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories At least five times this year, the Kremlin has published previously recorded footage of President Vladimir Putin and passed it off as fresh, RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit has found. The giveaway: A rearrangement of the Russian constitution and other tomes in a bookcase behind Putin’s desk. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-kremlin-trickery-old-footage-absence/33513376.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-kremlin-trickery-old-footage-absence/33513376.html Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:26:46 +0200 RussiaFeaturesThe Rundown Stories