Russia blames the West

Pascale Harter introduces stories from Russia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Brazil.

After it was confirmed that that British-made drones were used in recent Ukrainian strikes on Russia, Russia issued a warning to the UK that there "would be consequences". The authorities - and some citizens - are increasingly blaming the West for Russia’s problems at home, as Steve Rosenberg found recently on the streets of Moscow.

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with a record number of cases and deaths in the most recent statistics. Emery Makumeno in Kinshasa finds the battle to bring the outbreak under control is not only about infection and response, but also about tackling disbelief, scepticism and misinformation about the disease.

In Brazil, candidates in this October’s presidential election have kicked off their campaigns. Incumbent President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva - who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term - returned to a football arena in the industrial heartland where his political career was first launched. Meanwhile, Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, pressed hard on themes of national pride, a war on crime and Brazilians' economic concerns. Ione Wells has been in San Bernado do Campo.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Justine Lang
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
(Image: People queue to refuel their cars at a Lukoil petrol station in Moscow on June 30, 2026. Credit: Igor IVANKO / AFP via Getty Images)