You are listening to the audio version of the Wider Europe newsletter, published on April 29, 2025, read by an AI-generated voice of RFE/RL's Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak.

An annual report on global military spending shows that Ukraine is spending more of its GDP on defense than any other country ...

A massive explosion and fire struck the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on April 26, officials said, leaving at least 500 ...

A massive explosion at Iran's key commercial port near the city of Bandar Abbas has killed at least 25 people and injured ...

Here are some of the most compelling photographs from the 17th week of 2025 from around RFE/RL's coverage region.

The Russian military intelligence (GRU) oversaw the recruitment of prisoners into assault units known as “Storm Z”. It also funded the units and collected of information about casualties, RFE/RL's ...

As Ukraine marks the 39th anniversary of the world's worst civilian nuclear accident at the Chernobyl power plant, engineers are struggling to find ways to repair the complex's protective shield more ...