Russia said Thursday it will close the bureau of German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and revoke its employees' accreditations in Russia in response to Berlin's ban on the German-language channel of Russian state TV network RT. 

The announcement comes with tensions simmering between Russia and the West over a number of issues, especially fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It also marks a shift in the stance of the Kremlin that has rarely taken measures against international media operating in the country. 

The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday it will "terminate the satellite and other broadcasting (output) of Deutsche Welle" on Russian territory.

The ministry added it was also initiating the process of recognising the German media as a "foreign agent".    

Deutsche Welle -- a German state-owned broadcaster -- has its service available in 30 languages, including Russian. 

Germany's broadcasting regulator on Wednesday announced that it was banning the transmission of the channel "RT DE", the German-language branch of a Russian state TV network accused by Western countries of distributing Kremlin propaganda. 

The German regulator said the channel was based in Berlin and did not have a "legitimate permit under European law".