In June, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova and the Defense Ministry verified the status of 91 missing soldiers. They also achieved positive results on 342 requests concerning healthcare, social benefits, and documents, and organized three prisoner swaps returning 550 servicemen.
Days after a major prisoner swap, Houthis sentenced 19 to death for supporting the Yemeni government. Meanwhile, criticism mounts against the government for excluding tribal leaders and activists from the deal, and universities face Houthi ideological control.
Over 500 Ukrainian drones attacked Russia overnight, killing three near Moscow. Romania found an unexploded projectile. The US let a sanctions waiver for Russian oil purchases lapse, impacting India.
Venezuela has deported Alex Saab, a close ally of Nicolás Maduro, to the U.S. for judicial proceedings. Saab, a businessman pardoned by President Biden in a 2021 prisoner swap, is described by U.S. officials as Maduro's "bag man" and may testify against him.
US President Trump announced a three-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire from May 9-11, hoping for a long-term peace deal and a prisoner exchange. Despite this, fighting persisted, with both sides reporting attacks. Ukraine accused Russia of continuing assaults, while Russia claimed to intercept numerous drones. The truce follows Russia's Victory Day, a proposal Kyiv had previously dismissed.
US President Trump announced a three-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire from May 9-11, hoping for a long-term peace deal and a prisoner exchange. Despite this, fighting persisted, with both sides reporting attacks. Ukraine accused Russia of continuing assaults, while Russia claimed to intercept numerous drones. The truce follows Russia's Victory Day, a proposal Kyiv had previously dismissed.
According to the agency, participants involved in negotiations launched talks on the possible exchange as early as September 2025
Belarusian journalist Katsiaryna Andreeva, released in March 2026 after five years in prison for filming protests against Lukashenko, describes her ordeal including hard labor in a sewing factory and psychological pressure. She was freed as part of a US-brokered deal involving sanctions relief, but her husband remains incarcerated. Out of 1,300 prisoners promised, only 500 have been released. 'I will only truly feel free once my husband is back by my side,' she said.
