Russia responded to U.S. sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine with penalties of its own.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the introduction of sanctions on 398 members of the House on Wednesday, a move that comes after the United States maneuvered to hinder Russia’s economy and remove Russian diplomats.
“The individuals in question, including top officials and committee chairpersons in the lower house of the US Congress, have been blacklisted by Russia permanently,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “Together with other incumbent lawmakers, who, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were barred from entering Russia earlier, all members of the US Congress have been blacklisted on the basis of reciprocity.”
The sanctions mostly affect U.S. lawmakers’ ability to travel to Russia — a move no member of Congress has attempted since the war in Ukraine began. Some House members traveled to Poland this week to meet with Ukrainian leaders.
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Russia promised it is not done trying to punish lawmakers.
“Taking into account the sanctions the U.S. is constantly introducing, further announcements of Russian countermeasures are planned in the near future,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Lawmakers didn’t seem perturbed by the sanctions, with some taking to Twitter to highlight their status as a blacklisted member.
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Rep. Ashley Hinson, an Iowa Republican, said the sanction was a “badge of honor.”
“It is laughable that Putin thinks these sanctions will even slightly deter our efforts to defeat him and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom,” she said.
