Sean Penn and Ben Stiller banned from entering Russia

Russia announced on Monday that it was banning 25 Americans, including cultural figures such as director Sean Penn and actor Ben Stiller, from entering its territory in response to US sanctions targeting Moscow.

The decision was made “in response to the Joe Biden administration’s broad sanctions against Russian citizens,” the Russian Foreign Ministry defended in a press release published on its website.

Among those banned from entering Russia is actor and director Sean Penn, who notably traveled to Kyiv in late June to show his support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the midst of a Russian offensive in the country.

Also on the list are “Zoolander” star actor Ben Stiller, who visited the Ukrainian capital in June, and politicians and members of President Joe Biden’s administration.

“The hostile actions of the American authorities, which continue the Russophobic direction, destroying bilateral relations, intensifying the confrontation between Russia and the United States, will be strongly repelled,” the Russian embassy said in a statement.

In late June, Russia announced it was banning US President Joe Biden’s wife and daughter from the territory after Washington sanctioned members of Vladimir Putin’s family, particularly his two daughters, and the Russian president. Mr. Biden is banned from Russia.