Moscow announced Thursday that it will close the bureau of German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and revoke its employees' accreditations in Russia in response to Berlin's ban on the German-language channel of Russian state TV network Russia Today (RT).

The announcement comes with tensions simmering between Russia and the West over a number of issues, especially fears of an alleged Russian "invasion" of Ukraine.

It also marks a shift in the Russian state stance that has rarely taken measures against international media operating in the country.

In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that it will "terminate the satellite and other broadcasting (output) of Deutsche Welle" on Russian territory.

The ministry added it was also initiating the process of recognizing the German media as a "foreign agent".

Deutsche Welle -- a German state-owned broadcaster -- has its service available in 30 languages, including Russian.

Germany's broadcasting regulator had announced Wednesday that it was banning the transmission of the channel "RT DE", accused by Western countries of "distributing Kremlin propaganda."

The German regulator said the channel was based in Berlin and did not have a "legitimate permit under European law."

DW Vows to Challenge Measures Announced by Russia

According to an official statement issued by Deutsche Welle following Moscow's decision to close the DW's bureau in Russia, the German state-run broadcaster said it would fight the measures outlined by Moscow and take legal action.

DW CEO Peter Limbourg said that they strongly protest what he described as an "absurd" reaction from the Russian government and vows  will take legal action "to challenge the announced measures." 

Claudia Roth, Germany's Commissioner for Culture and Media, warned on Thursday that Russia's actions against Deutsche Welle are unacceptably harsh.

The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously stated that Moscow was closing the Deutsche Welle correspondent office in Russia and canceling the accreditations of all staff of its local bureau in retaliation to the RT DE channel's suspension of airing.

Germany bans Russia's German-speaking RT

Germany's broadcasting regulator said Wednesday Berlin had banned the transmission of Russia's RT  Deutsch-speaking broadcaster in the country.

The transmission of RT DE was "prohibited because it does not have the necessary broadcasting license," the authorization and oversight commission claimed.

Moscow vowed retaliation, saying this step left Russia no choice "other than to start implementing retaliatory measures against German media accredited in Russia," the foreign ministry said in a statement following its ban in Germany.

Similar measures would be taken against "internet-intermediaries" that have deleted the channel from their platforms, in a nod to YouTube.