Russia expands list of banned UK nationals in response to London’s ‘confrontational course’ on Ukraine

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia expanded its list of banned UK nationals on Friday in response to what it said was London’s continued confrontational course on Ukraine and “cynical anti-Russian adventures.”

The list of seven individuals included an MP, Foreign Office employees, think-tank experts and third-country nationals working for British institutions.

“The British have recently resorted to their tried and tested tools of mind manipulation: another round of anti-Russian spy mania, fantasies about an alleged ‘military threat’ hanging over Europe, and pompously announcing economic restrictions, which, however, mainly affect the British economy itself,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Cynical anti-Russian adventures continue to be regularly financed by London to the detriment of the deteriorating socio-economic and, as a result, domestic political situation in the country.”

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy PapachristouEditing by Andrew Osborn Editing by Andrew Osborn)