Russia’s foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that it is banning access to the broadcasts of 81 media outlets in response to the EU’s decision to sanction certain Russian media outlets for spreading propaganda. They also accused the EU based media outlets of disseminating false information about the war in Ukraine.

The ban notably affects several prominent media outlets such as Der Spiegel (Germany), Le Monde (France) and Politico (Europe) and adds to the already strict restrictions on independent journalism within the country. Since the invasion of Ukraine, there has been a trend in Russia of tightened control over information and suppressing dissenting voices. Many journalists have faced prosecution or been forced to flee the country for their safety.

The action comes in direct response to the EU Council’s decision in May, 2024 to suspend the broadcasting activities of four Russian media outlets within the EU for allegedly supporting Russian war efforts and destabilizing other countries. Russia said that if restrictions on Russian media are lifted, they would be open to rescinding the ban, with the Russian Ministry characterizing their action as a symmetrical and proportionate countermeasure to what they perceive to be politically motivated harassment of Russian journalists and unjustified bans on Russian media in the EU.

The tit-for-tat nature of the media ban highlights the deepening rift between Russia and the EU, who have accused each other of spreading disinformation and propaganda and implementing measures to counter the other’s influence. Last week, the EU agreed on additional sanctions against Russia and police in some countries, like Belgium, have conducted raids connected to alleged Russian interference.