MOSCOW

Russia on Wednesday blacklisted 18 UK nationals and one each from three other Western countries in response to London's "ongoing confrontational course," as well as fabrication of anti-Moscow narratives and support for Ukraine's "neo-Nazi" regime.

The Foreign Ministry issued a list of journalists and employees of non-governmental organizations, consulting firms, and think tanks from the UK, the US, Canada, and Ireland to whom entry to Russia has been barred. "Work on expanding Russia's stop-list will continue," the ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, the blacklisted individuals were conducting a "vilification campaign" by fabricating anti-Russian narratives in order to harm Moscow's global image and arm the "neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv."

Moscow has warned that those who spread "misinformation" about Russia's "special military operation" and those advocating for tougher Western policies and increased support for Kyiv will face such actions, said the statement.

The statement also criticized "British propagandists," saying that their "irresponsible" actions destabilize global energy markets and divert Western resources from international development to "fueling Kyiv's militarism," which they argue benefits their own defense industries.

The ministry claimed that this has a negative impact on Global South countries, which are dealing with new forms of Western neocolonialism in the aftermath of historical colonialism.

"Such collateral damage appears inconsequential to London and its allies, despite rhetorical claims of defending universal values in the Ukrainian conflict," it said.

The ministry warned that Britain may use similar "propaganda tools" against any international entity whose actions no longer align with the interests of the collective West.