Russia Bans 92 U.S. Citizens Amid Rising Tensions

Russia's foreign ministry has banned 92 U.S. citizens, including journalists and military-industrial firm leaders, from entering the country. This action comes as a response to the U.S.'s stance on the Ukraine war and its sanctions on Russian entities, marking a significant strain in U.S.-Russia relations.

Russia's foreign ministry announced on Wednesday that it is banning 92 U.S. citizens from entering the country. The list includes journalists, lawyers, and leaders of major military-industrial firms, as a retaliatory measure against what it calls Washington's 'Russophobic stance'.

The conflict in Ukraine has exacerbated the worst crisis in U.S.-Russia relations since the Cold War era. The foreign ministry's list, shared on Telegram, targets 14 Wall Street Journal employees, five journalists from The New York Times, and four from The Washington Post.

The ministry explained that it is focusing on editorial staff and reporters from 'leading liberal-globalist publications,' accusing them of disseminating 'fake' information about the Russian armed forces. This move follows the Biden administration's sweeping sanctions on Russian officials, business leaders, scientists, and journalists, part of what Moscow terms a 'Russophobic course'.

(With inputs from agencies.)