Russia announces sanctions on 25 Americans, including actors Sean Penn and Ben Stiller

The Kremlin announced this week that it has placed sanctions on 25 more Americans due to their criticism of the war in Ukraine, including Hollywood celebrities and US political leaders.

In retaliation for the laundry list of sanctions placed on Russia by the United States and the European Union since the onset of the invasion of Ukraine in February, Russia announced this week it will be placing a lifetime ban on travel to Russia on more Americans.

The list issued on Monday included actors Sean Penn and Ben Stiller, both of whom have spoken out publicly against the Russian invasion.

Stiller met with Ukrainian President Volofomyr Zelensky in June this year in Kyiv to honor World Refugee Day and the over 7 million Ukrainians who have fled their country since Russia invaded in February. He is also a commissioner for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Penn made headlines early in the crisis when he traveled with refugees on foot to the Polish border. 

The list of sanctioned Americans also includes several politicians from both sides of the aisle. Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Rounds (R-SD) made the list this week, as well as Florida Republican and former governor Rick Scott. 

The sanctions imposed bar those named from ever entering Russia, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Russia has previously sanctioned many US politicians for speaking out against the Ukraine invasion.

Some who have already been sanctioned include President Joe Biden, former Press Secretary Jen Psaki, several Biden cabinet members, and even Hunter Biden and Hillary Clinton.