Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on Wednesday to extend or apply sanctions on over 400 individuals and 90 legal entities in response to a decision by separatist rebels to set the date for "illegal elections."
The restrictions will last for one year and apply to people and entities "of Russia and other countries related to the annexation of Crimea and aggression in Donbass [eastern Ukraine,]" according to a statement on the presidential website.
The list includes a number of journalists, including three BBC employees based in Moscow.
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Thursday Russia will analyze the possible consequences of the new sanctions, RIA news agency reported.
The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday protested Ukraine's decision.
"We are dismayed by President Poroshenko's actions, including a ban on dozens of international media covering Ukraine," Nina Ognianova, Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator of the New York-based advocacy group, said in a statement.
"While the government may not like or agree with the coverage, labeling journalists a potential threat to national security is not an appropriate response."
The ban, which affects 34 journalists and seven bloggers from countries including Britain, Germany, Spain and Bulgaria, appears to be something of an own-goal for Ukraine, which needs the support of European partners to maintain pressure on Russia.
"This is overkill. The sanctions are going to cause more harm than good. They should have been more flexible in their approach," said Volodymyr Fesenko, an analyst at Kiev's independent Penta political research center.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
![paiment methods](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/contribute/payment_icons.png)
Remind me later.