SEVERAL Dorset MPs are among hundreds to have been sanctioned by the Russian foreign ministry.

Moscow banned 287 members of the House of Commons on Wednesday from entering Russia in response to UK sanctions against Russian politicians over the invasion of Ukraine.

A statement from the Russian foreign ministry accused Conservative and Labour members of “whipping up of Russophobic hysteria”.

The list of banned UK politicians, which contained many former MPs, included Conor Burns (Bournemouth West), Sir Robert Syms (Poole), Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) and Richard Drax (South Dorset).

Sir Christopher Chope (Christchurch), Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East), Simon Hoare (North Dorset) and Chris Loder (West Dorset) have not been sanctioned by Russia.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s department announced the move in response to the UK sanctioning 386 members of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, last month.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the MPs “should regard it as a badge of honour”, and multiple politicians welcomed being included on the list, including Sir Robert.

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