RT News - August 16 2026 (17:00 MSK)

Five people are killed as a barrage of Ukrainian drones hits 18 Russian regions, with over 800 UAVs downed nationwide. Warning - distressing images ahead. As Ukraine continues to forcefully draft people off the streets, some officials suggest women should be sent to the frontlines. That's as Kiev's soldiers describe being left in dire conditions. A German newspaper defends its journalist for asking this question, saying its all about freedom of the press. Ahead in the programme, we take a deep look at how the Western political apparatus scripts this narrative of hate. While Iran faces severe economic pressure, its people find a workaround - turning to gold and other assets to protect their wealth from high inflation brought on by sanctions.