Russia warns response to US sanctions on RT will make ‘everyone shudder’

Russia has vowed to take retaliatory actions following the United States' decision to impose sanctions on its state-backed media network RT, warning that the measures will be severe enough to "make everyone shudder."

The U.S. sanctions target RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan and her deputy, Elizaveta Brodskaia, which Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as part of an "information campaign" ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections in November.

"When authorities resort to such primitive methods to influence their voters, it signals the decline of ‘liberal democracies,’” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Thursday, adding, "There will be a response."

On Wednesday, two other RT staff members, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, were charged by the U.S. for allegedly attempting to interfere in the election. They are accused of funneling $10 million to a Tennessee-based company to manipulate social media and distribute hidden Russian government messaging aimed at American audiences.

Zakharova further commented that this was a "long-prepared" operation timed for the final stages of the electoral cycle, promising a harsh response that would make "everyone shudder."

She also warned that any efforts to expel Russian journalists from the U.S., obstruct their work, or restrict their visas would trigger retaliatory measures against American media in Russia, which could be symmetrical or asymmetrical in nature.

U.S. authorities have highlighted Russia as a key threat to the upcoming election, with intelligence officials suggesting Moscow favors former President Donald Trump. This comes as the FBI investigates alleged hacking attempts by Iran targeting both Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

In response, the U.S. Department of State has taken action against several employees of Russian state-owned media outlets, designating them as "foreign missions" and offering rewards for information on foreign interference. The media companies Rossiya Segodnya, RIA Novosti, RT, TV-Novosti, Ruptly, and Sputnik have been added to the list of foreign missions, requiring them to register with the U.S. government and disclose their assets and staff.

Russia’s threat of retaliation comes at a time when most U.S. media outlets have reduced or withdrawn their presence in the country, following Moscow's offensive in Ukraine and its domestic crackdown on dissent.