The Russian Foreign Ministry announced today that former President Barack Obama was among the 500 American citizens who would be detained in response to the latest round of sanctions announced by Washington, writes Reuters .
The ministry also said Russia had rejected a recent US request for consular access to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March on suspicion of espionage.
The move was prompted by the US refusal last month to grant visas to media traveling with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the United Nations, a statement said.
"Washington should have learned a long time ago that not a single hostile attack on Russia will go unpunished," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Earlier on Friday, the US announced punitive measures against more than 300 targets in retaliation for Russia's months-long invasion of Ukraine.