Russia imposes restrictions on 15 European media outlets in response to EU sanctions

Russia has imposed access restrictions on 15 European media outlets, citing the European Union’s earlier sanctions against Russian media.

Russia announced on Monday that it is placing restrictions on access to 15 European media outlets, responding to what it calls “unjustified restrictions” imposed by the European Union earlier this year. The move comes after the EU’s 16th sanctions package, which targeted several Russian news organisations.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the affected European outlets of “dissemination of false information” and said the countermeasures are aimed at those involved in such activities. The ministry added that the decision will block access to the web resources of these outlets from within Russian territory.

“These measures were taken in response to restrictions imposed by the 27 member bloc within the framework of its 16th sanctions package, approved in February against eight Russian media outlets,” the statement said.

The ministry said Moscow had repeatedly warned Brussels and member states that any bans on Russian media would prompt retaliatory actions. It insisted that “responsibility for such developments lies entirely with the European Union and the bloc's member states that supported the unlawful decisions.”

The Russian authorities indicated that they would reconsider their restrictions if the EU and its member states lifted the measures against Russian media. However, the statement did not specify which European outlets are now affected by the Russian countermeasures.

The dispute began in February when the EU suspended the broadcasting licences of eight Russian media organisations, including Eurasia Daily, Fondsk, Lenta, NewsFront, RuBaltic, SouthFront, Strategic Culture Foundation, and Krasnaya Zvezda, as part of its 16th sanctions package targeting Russia.

The latest move marks a further escalation in the ongoing standoff between Russia and the European Union over the flow of information and media freedoms, with both sides accusing each other of censorship and misinformation.

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