Russia blocks 81 EU media outlets in retaliatory move

The Kremlin has announced it is blocking access on Russian territory to 81 European media outlets in retaliation for a decision by the EU to ban broadcasting by some Russian media.

Outlets including magazines, state broadcasters and national newspapers from across the EU will become inaccessible from Russia.

On 17 May, the EU Council announced it would block broadcasting by Russian outlets Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta, accusing them of "spreading and supporting the Russian propaganda and war of aggression against Ukraine".

Now, the Russian government has said Russia was forced to "introduce symmetrical and proportional countermeasures".

Outlets from 25 out of 27 EU member states will be affected.

The list of blacklisted media includes Europe-wide outlets such as Politico and EU Observer, Ireland's state broadcaster RTE, France's Le Monde newspaper and Germany's Der Spiegel magazine.

Several Italian outlets, like state broadcaster Rai and newspaper La Repubblica, will also see their access restricted in Russia. Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the decision, saying that "it will not erase the effects of a violent, devastating and illegal war".

European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said the ban was "nonsense retaliation" and added that "propaganda outlets funded by Russia to spread disinformation as part of Russia’s military doctrine are not the same as independent media".

Moscow said it would consider rescinding the ban if restrictions against Russian media outlets are lifted.

Russian state-backed news channel RT had its licence to broadcast in the EU revoked shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Around the same time, Russia restricted access to several Western websites, including the BBC, accusing them of spreading "false information".