German broadcaster Deutsche Welle closed Friday its Moscow bureau after Russia shut down the media outlet's local operations following Germany banning a service of Russia's state TV network Russia Today. 

Moscow ordered Deutsche Welle to close and revoked staff accreditations in response to Berlin's ban on the German-language channel of Russia Today. 

On its website, Deutsche Welle announced that "the team stopped their work early on Friday after having their credentials revoked." 

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Deutsche Welle's Moscow bureau has around two dozen employees.

In response, the EU claimed Moscow's move was "unjustified" and "regrettably illustrates yet again their continuous violation of media freedom," even though Germany was the first to initiate a ban.

Similarly, the German government argued the move had "no basis of comparison whatsoever" with Berlin's ruling on RT. 

On his part, Deutsche Welle's chief Peter Limbourg called the order an "absurd reaction of the Russian government." 

Russia will respond to German escalation 

For her part, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that Moscow could make further moves against German media operating in the country. 

"If Germany goes for escalation, we will respond the same way," she said. 

Russia also announced it was initiating the process of designating Deutsche Welle as a "foreign agent".

The closure of the bureau came as tensions mount between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.