Prairie State Wire

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) is taking pride in making Russian president Vladimir Putin's list of people banned from Russia.

"As Vladimir Putin continues his unprovoked war in Ukraine, I am proud to be sanctioned by his murderous regime. On the House Intelligence Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to support our allies and expose Vladimir Putin for the war criminal he is. Thugs like Putin will never intimidate the United States of America," said LaHood.

Nearly 1,000 Americans have been permanently banned from traveling to Russia, and in that list, there are nearly two dozen Illinois residents and political figures. Among the well-known Illinois names are: U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, Rodney Davis, Sean Casten,  Adam Kinzinger, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

The list also includes: U.S. Reps. Cheryl Bustos, Jesus Garcia, Michael Bruce Quigley, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamurthy, Mary E. Miller, Bobby L. Rush, George Foster, Janice Danoff Schakowsky, Bradley Schneider, and Marie Newman

According to USA Today, the Russian foreign ministry announced the ban on May 18. In a statement, the Ministry wrote: "We emphasize that the hostile actions taken by Washington, which boomerang against the United States itself, will continue to receive a proper rebuff. Russian counter-sanctions are forced and aimed at forcing the ruling American regime, which is trying to impose a neo-colonial 'rules-based world order' on the rest of the world, to change its behavior, recognizing new geopolitical realities."

Durbin was one of several who joined Sen. Joe Manchin to push for a ban on importing Russian oil in March.