Russia sanctions Sky and BBC stars among host of journalists in lengthy 'stop list'

Russia has banned dozens of British journalists, media representatives and defence figures from entering the country, its Foreign Ministry confirmed.

In a move that Moscow said was a response to Western sanctions and the "spreading of false information about Russia ", 29 journalists and members of British media organisations such as the BBC, the broadcaster Sky News and the Guardian and Times newspapers were personally banned.

Another 20 British figures who Moscow said were linked to the defence industry were also banned from entering Russia.

"The British journalists included in the list are involved in the deliberate dissemination of false and one-sided information about Russia and events in Ukraine and Donbas," the ministry said in a statement released on Tuesday.

BBC broadcaster Nick Robinson is among those banned from Russia (PA)

"With their biased assessments, they also contribute to fuelling Russophobia in British society."

The list includes high-profile journalists, news anchors, editors and senior managers, including the editors-in-chief of the Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent and Guardian newspapers.

The foreign ministry also issued entry bans to 20 figures it said were associated with the British defence industry and were therefore responsible for supplying Western arms to Ukraine.

Sky News Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay (left) (PA)

They included Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Benjamin Key, junior defence minister Jeremy Quin, and senior figures at the defence and aerospace firms BAE Systems and Thales UK.

"It's sad, but not entirely surprising," said Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russia who was among those banned.

The following is a list of British subjects who are no longer allowed to enter the Russian Federation

Broadcaster Clive Myrie (PA)

Katharine Viner, Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspaper (SWNS)

Media representatives

1. Shaun WALKER, Correspondent, The Guardian;
2. Con COUGHLIN, columnist for the Daily Telegraph;
3. Stuart RAMSAY, Chief Correspondent, Sky News;
4. James ROTHWELL, journalist for the Daily Telegraph;
5. John WITHEROW, Editor-in-Chief, The Times;
6. Chris EVANS, editor-in-chief of the Daily Telegraph;
7. Richard Simon SHARP, Chairman of the Board of Governors, BBC Broadcasting Company;
8. Timothy Douglas DAVIE, CEO, BBC Television;
9. Katharine Sophie VINER, Editor-in-Chief, The Guardian;
10. Clive MYRIE, Correspondent and Anchorman for the BBC;
11. Orla GUERIN, BBC correspondent;
12. Nicholas Anthony ROBINSON, BBC presenter;
13. Paul ADAMS, BBC Correspondent;
14. Nicholas BEAKE, BBC correspondent;
15. Alexander James THOMSON, Channel 4 News Correspondent and Host;
16. Dan RIVERS, ITV Correspondent;
17. Peter BEAUMONT, Journalist for The Guardian;
18. Emma GRAHAM-HARRISON, Correspondent, The Guardian;
19. Sophy RIDGE, journalist and host of Sky News;
20. Catherine Elizabeth NEWMAN, journalist and host of Channel 4 News;
21. Edward VERITY, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail;
22. Christian BROUGHTON, Editor-in-Chief, The Independent;
23. Larisa BROWN, military news editor for The Times;
24. Mark GALEOTTI, political scientist;
25. Joseph BARNES, correspondent for the Daily Telegraph;
26. Gideon RACHMAN, columnist for the Financial Times;
27. Luke Daniel HARDING, Correspondent, The Guardian;
28. Dominic Ralph Campden LAWSON, columnist for The Sunday Times and Daily Mail;
29. Lawrence David FREEDMAN is a columnist for The Sunday Times.

Persons associated with the defence complex

1. Jeremy Mark QUIN, British Deputy Secretary of Defense;
2. Leo DOCHERTY, British Parliamentary Under Secretary of Defense;
3. Benjamin John KEY, Commander of the Royal Navy, Chief of Staff of the Royal Navy;
4. Michael WIGSTON, RAF Commander;
5. Robert Andrew MAGOWAN, Deputy Chief, UK Strategic Command;
6. Charles Richard STICKLAND, Commander, Joint Operations, UK Armed Forces;
7. Roger Martyn CARR, Chairman of the Board of Directors, BAE Systems Campaign;
8. Charles Nicholas WOODBURN, Member of the Board of Directors, Executive Director of the BAE Systems Group of Companies;
9. David ARMSTRONG, managing director of the BAE Systems group of companies;
10. Glynn Stuart PHILLIPS, managing director of the BAE Systems group of companies;
11. Clifford Mark ROBSON, managing director of the BAE Systems group of companies;
12. Alexander Colin Kynaston CRESSWELL, Chairman of the Board of Directors, CEO of Thales UK;
13. Christopher Benoit Waller SHAW, Chief Operating Officer of Thales UK;
14. Paul GOSLING, Vice President, Thales UK;
15. Ewen Angus MCCRORIE, Vice President, Thales UK;
16. Suzanne Jayne STRATTON, Vice President, Thales UK;
17. Lynne WATSON, Vice President, Thales UK;
18. Gregory Lloyd CAMPBELL, member of the British House of Commons;
19. Gavin James ROBINSON, member of the British House of Commons;
20. Samuel WILSON, member of the British House of Commons.