On June 16, the Russian Foreign Ministry banned 56 journalists and media executives from Australia from entering the country over their reporting on the war in Ukraine. The Ministry justified the move by citing Australian sanctions on its own citizens. The journalists were among a list of 121 Australian citizens to be barred entry. Those on the list were additionally accused of promoting a “Russophobic agenda,” according to the statement. Among those banned were journalists from major media outlets such as ABC, Sky News, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph.