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Obama orders sanctions against Russia over US election hacking, expels 35 diplomats

Click to play video: 'White House preparing to take diplomatic action against Russia over election hacking'
White House preparing to take diplomatic action against Russia over election hacking
WATCH: White House preparing to take diplomatic action against Russia over election hacking – Dec 29, 2016

In a sweeping response to election hacking, President Barack Obama on Thursday sanctioned Russian intelligence services and their top officials, kicked out 35 Russian officials and shuttered two Russian-owned compounds in the U.S. It was the strongest action the Obama administration has taken to date to retaliate for a cyberattack.

“All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Obama said in a statement released while he was vacationing in Hawaii. He added: “Such activities have consequences.”

READ MORE: US senators call for sanctions against Russia over election hacking

Obama ordered sanctions against two Russian intelligence services, the GRU and the FSB, plus companies which the U.S. says support the GRU. The cybersecurity firm hired by the Democratic National Committee to investigate theft of its emails determined earlier this year the hacking came from the Fancy Bear group, believed to be affiliated with the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency.

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WATCH: Donald Trump and the alleged Russian influence over the U.S. Election
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Donald Trump and the alleged Russian influence over the U.S. Election

The president also sanctioned Lt. Gen. Korobov, the head of GRU, and three of his deputies. Other individuals sanctioned include Alexei Belan and Yevgeny Bogachev, two Russian nationals who have been wanted by the FBI for cyber crimes for years.

Obama said the hacking “could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government,” a contention the U.S. has used to suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally involved.

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READ MORE: European countries sound the alarm over threat of Russian cyberattacks

Although the White House announced at the same time it was kicking out Russian officials and closing facilities, it said those were responses to other troubling Russian behavior: harassment of U.S. diplomats by Russian personnel and police.

The 35 Russian diplomats being kicked out are intelligence operatives, Obama said. The State Department said they were being declared “persona non grata,” and they were given 72 hours to leave the country.

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READ MORE: Did Russia hack the US presidential election? Here’s what we know

The two compounds being closed down are recreational facilities owned by Russia’s government, one in Maryland and one in New York, the U.S. said. The White House said Russia had been notified that Russia would be denied access to the sites starting noon on Friday.

WATCH: Russian recreational compound in Maryland closed after U.S. sanctions
Click to play video: 'Russian recreational compound in Maryland closed after U.S. sanctions'
Russian recreational compound in Maryland closed after U.S. sanctions

Russian officials have denied the Obama administration’s accusation that the Russian government was involved at the highest levels in trying to influence the U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia’s goal was to help Donald Trump win – an assessment Trump has dismissed as ridiculous.

The move puts the president-elect in the position of having to decide whether to roll back the measures once in office.

However, Trump has spoken out against any such action against Russia, saying “we ought to get on with our lives.

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WATCH: Trump suggests China, not Russia, behind DNC email hack
Click to play video: '‘Probably China’: Trump rejects claims Russia hacked ‘horrible’ DNC emails'
‘Probably China’: Trump rejects claims Russia hacked ‘horrible’ DNC emails

Abdollah reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report.

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