Russia has significantly expanded its blacklist of European Union officials and figures banned from entering the country, in retaliation for Brussels’ newly approved 20th sanctions package against Moscow.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which accused the EU of continuing efforts to pressure Russia through what it described as unilateral restrictive measures.
Moscow said the bloc’s actions were “destructive” and claimed they violated international legal norms.
According to the ministry, the broadened blacklist now includes civil society activists and academics in European countries whom Russia says hold hostile views towards Moscow.
It also covers members of national parliaments across EU member states, as well as lawmakers in the European Parliament who voted in favour of anti-Russian resolutions and legislation.
Russia further said it had barred representatives of European institutions and EU states involved in decisions to provide military aid to Ukraine.
Moscow did not immediately publish a full list of names.
The move follows last week’s agreement by EU leaders on a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine and a sweeping 20th round of sanctions targeting Russia’s energy, banking, defence and logistics sectors.
António Costa said on Thursday the package was designed to maintain pressure on Russia while supporting Kyiv.
The latest sanctions round also included new vessel bans, tighter export controls and additional restrictions on Russian financial institutions.
Russia has repeatedly imposed travel bans on Western officials since the start of the war in Ukraine, mirroring sanctions introduced by the EU, the U.S. and its allies.
The widening of Moscow’s blacklist signals that diplomatic retaliation between Russia and the West remains entrenched as the conflict continues.
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