Russia has banned several parliamentarians, government members, and business, academic, and media representatives from Iceland, Norway, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands from entering the country, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The steps were imposed in response to Iceland, Norway, and the Danish autonomies of Greenland and the Faroe Islands joining the European Union's anti-Russian sanctions, which include, among other things, personal restrictions on Russian officials.

"Reciprocal measures have been taken against nine representatives of Iceland, 16 representatives of Norway, three representatives of Greenland, and three representatives of the Faroe Islands. These persons are prohibited from entering the territory of our country," the statement said.

The ministry noted that several parliamentarians, members of government, representatives of business and academic circles and the media, as well as some public figures who actively promote anti-Russian rhetoric and participate in the formation and implementation of policies directed against the Russian Federation were included in the response Russian blacklist.

In January, Moscow expanded the list of EU officials, heads of European private military companies, and politicians from certain EU member states banned from entering Russia.

The announcement came from the Russian Foreign Ministry, which said the retaliatory measure affected "the heads of individual European PMCs operating in various regions of the world, who for some reason do not cause allergies in Brussels EU officials."