The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has taken a new turn as Russia has taken steps to stamp out independent news, banning the largest independent news website, Meduza.

The Russian government has labeled Meduza an “undesirable organisation” and has outlawed its operations in the country. This follows an attempt by the Russian authorities to clamp down on any independent news sources in the region.

The move has been met with condemnation from the international community, with the Financial Times calling the ban “a major blow to freedom of the press in Russia”.

The Guardian reported that the ban was an attempt by the Russian authorities to “stamp out independent news”, while Al Jazeera English reported that the ban was “in line with a growing trend of censorship in the country”.

The New York Times reported that the ban was part of a wider effort by the Russian government to “control the narrative” in the ongoing conflict.

The ban has been met with a fierce backlash from the international community, with many calling for the Russian authorities to reverse the decision.