This undated file photo shows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in Moscow. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

MOSCOW – Russia has imposed personal sanctions against 54 British citizens, including officials, journalists and law enforcement representatives, the Russian foreign ministry announced on Friday.

The decision was taken "in response to London's hostile anti-Russian course," and unilateral sanctions imposed against Russian citizens and economic operators, the ministry said in a statement.

British Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Fraser, and Minister of State at Britain's Defense Ministry Annabel Goldie were among those sanctioned, according to the ministry.

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The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan, who is British, was also sanctioned for his involvement "in issuing an arrest warrant against the Russian leadership," the statement said.

Russia has denied entry to several Moldovan officials following the latter's decision to reduce the number of Russian diplomats in the country

Personal sanctions were imposed against the leadership of a private British military company, Prevail Partners, which the foreign ministry said was involved in providing Ukrainian special services with intelligence data.

Journalists from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Guardian Media Group and the Daily Telegraph were included in the sanctions list, for spreading false information, attempting to "suppress and prevent an objective coverage" of the events in Ukraine, and disseminating propaganda, according to the statement. 

Moldovan officials to be barred

Moscow has also denied entry to several officials from Moldova in response to the latter's recent decision to reduce the number of Russian diplomats working in the country.

The foreign ministry said that the Moldovan Ambassador to Russia was summoned on Friday in protest over "the unjustified decision" of Chisinau to radically reduce the number of employees working at Russian foreign missions in Moldova.

"This hostile action will lead to a further destruction of Russian-Moldovan relations," the ministry said Friday.

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The Moldovan Foreign Ministry announced on July 26 that the number of Russian embassy staff working in the country will gradually be reduced to 10 diplomatic positions and 15 administrative and other posts. It said the decision was made "as a result of numerous unfriendly actions towards Moldova."