https://www.voanews.com Voice of America is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.voanews.com en 2026 - VOA 60 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:21:08 -0500 Pangea CMS – VOA A Russian human rights group says at least 69 people subjected to political persecution have died in Russia or Russian-occupied territory since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. https://www.voanews.com/a/human-rights-group-at-least-69-political-prisoners-in-russian-custody-have-died-since-february-2022/8217070.html https://www.voanews.com/a/human-rights-group-at-least-69-political-prisoners-in-russian-custody-have-died-since-february-2022/8217070.html Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:13:06 -0500 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian) A large evacuation and humanitarian mission is under way in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky on the Dnipro River. The temporary ceasefire that made the truce evacuation possible, brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, is a rare example of successful Russia-Ukraine negotiations. https://www.voanews.com/a/oleshky-evacuation-begins-as-former-us-ambassador-to-ukraine-calls-vladimir-putin-an-obstacle-to-talks/8217018.html https://www.voanews.com/a/oleshky-evacuation-begins-as-former-us-ambassador-to-ukraine-calls-vladimir-putin-an-obstacle-to-talks/8217018.html Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:46:17 -0400 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian) The sister of former Russian detainee Stephen Hubbard says her brother's condition is better than the family expected. The 74-year-old American was released from Russia after more than four years in detention and returned to the United States last week. https://www.voanews.com/a/former-russian-detainees-sister-says-stephen-hubbard-escaped-hell/8216170.html https://www.voanews.com/a/former-russian-detainees-sister-says-stephen-hubbard-escaped-hell/8216170.html Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:16:37 -0400 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian) The international criminal organization recruited more than 15,000 money mules across the United States. They were used to launder at least $10 million stolen by hackers from more than 750 American bank accounts, the DOJ says. https://www.voanews.com/a/russian-ukrainian-pleads-guilty-in-us-for-running-global-money-laundering-operation/8210798.html https://www.voanews.com/a/russian-ukrainian-pleads-guilty-in-us-for-running-global-money-laundering-operation/8210798.html Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:25:04 -0400 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian) The number of politically motivated prosecutions in Russia involving restrictions on freedom of association increased by 50% in the first nine months of 2026, according to a new report by the Support for Political Prisoners Memorial Center. https://www.voanews.com/a/human-rights-group-repression-intensifies-in-russia-for-participation-in-undesirable-organizations/8209652.html https://www.voanews.com/a/human-rights-group-repression-intensifies-in-russia-for-participation-in-undesirable-organizations/8209652.html Fri, 09 Oct 2026 16:00:33 -0400 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian) Pavel Talankin, the Russian documentary filmmaker and the creator of the Oscar-winning film “Mr. Nobody vs. Putin” told VOA’s Russian Service that parents and teachers have privately thanked him for exposing how the Kremlin brings propaganda into classrooms. https://www.voanews.com/a/oscar-winning-russian-filmmaker-says-parents-quietly-support-his-work/8209295.html https://www.voanews.com/a/oscar-winning-russian-filmmaker-says-parents-quietly-support-his-work/8209295.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:46:09 -0400 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian) The U.S. Embassy in Russia is warning Americans about a suspected case of pneumonic plague and stressed that U.S. citizens should "refrain from travel" to Russia, and those already in the country should leave immediately. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-embassy-warns-americans-about-suspected-plague-case-in-russia/8208834.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-embassy-warns-americans-about-suspected-plague-case-in-russia/8208834.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:15:35 -0400 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian)