Europe
Ukraine: Situation report
Fighting and shelling continues in eastern and southern Ukraine, and strikes in other areas have caused additional destruction of civilian infrastructure and a large number of civilian deaths and injuries. The civilian toll…
Europe: Heightened media repression
Russia’s war waged against Ukraine has created devastating consequences for freedom of the press. Reporters have been killed and injured in the field and censorship not seen since the Soviet period’s massive disinformation.…
Aid to Ukraine will not be stopped
The UN and humanitarians have delivered aid to more people in the retaken areas, reaching 13.4 million people across Ukraine since the end of February. Despite the escalation of hostilities and challenges of…
Europe: Most corrupt countries
According to Transparency International, Russia remains the most corrupt European country. High-ranking public officials commit illegal activities. Albanian businesses are bedevilled by corruption and low conviction rates. Austria has well-developed institutions and proactive…
Czech Republic: EU presidency and asylum relocation
The Czech EU presidency is proposing an annual minimum on the number of asylum seekers EU states are willing to relocate. The idea is part of bigger discussions on solidarity sharing, a concept…
Russia: violating UN sanctions with Iranian drones
The Americans, French, and British agree that ‘kamikaze’ drones unleashed by Russia into Ukraine were made in Iran and violate a UN security council resolution barring Iranian transfers of certain military technologies. Ukraine…
Russia: Father Grigory, prominent anti-war priest
When the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church is the most vocal supporter of Moscow's conflict in Ukraine, calling the conflict ‘war’ can land you in jail; it takes courage to speak out.…
Ukraine: occupying forces close churches, arrest pastors
Russians are closing evangelical Protestant churches claiming ‘only one faith would be tolerated - Orthodoxy’. They raided Grace Baptist Church while a worship service was being broadcast live. Viewers watched online while they…
Ukraine: heavy shelling and NATO aid
On 10 October Russian troops began launching a daily series of missile strikes, targeting civilians and energy facilities in populated regions to kill and create chaos. President Volodymyr Zelensky said, ‘They want to…
UK joins European Club of Nations
44 European leaders gathered in Prague on 6 October for the first meeting of a new political community. Most of the countries already belong to other organisations including the EU, NATO, the Council…
