ISTANBUL

Russia on Thursday banned the entry of 227 US citizens amid "ever-expanding" sanctions imposed by US authorities against Russian citizens for "supporting the Kremlin and a special military operation." 

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said it imposed the entry ban on those engaged in the "development, implementation and justification of the Russophobic course of the incumbent US administration."

It also stressed that the expansion of the "stop list" entails individuals from the US executive branch, the business community, the media sphere and academic circles, adding that "any aggressive attempts will not go unpunished and will receive a decisive rebuff."

On Tuesday, Russia also imposed an entry ban on 347 people from Baltic countries, namely Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Tuesday's "stop list" went on to list Baltic officials "most hostile to Russia," including the foreign ministers of the three countries, as well as Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina.