Russia announced on Friday that it had banned 500 Americans, including former President Barack Obama, from entering its territory in response to sanctions Washington imposed on Moscow earlier.
"In response to the sanctions against Russia that the Biden administration periodically imposes ... 500 Americans are barred from entering the Russian Federation," she said, adding that Obama was on the list.
The ministry also said in a statement that Russia had rejected the latest U.S. request to allow the consulate access to detained U.S. journalist Ivan Gershkovych, who was arrested in March and faces espionage charges.
A Russian ministry statement said the move was due to the United States' refusal last month to grant visas to journalists accompanying Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the United Nations.
"Washington should have known a long time ago that not a single hostile attack on Russia would go unpunished."
Earlier in the day, the United States announced punitive measures targeting more than 300 parties aimed at punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and intensifying one of the harshest sanctions ever implemented.