Germany decided to declare a "significant number" of Russian embassy personnel persona non grata, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday, adding that Berlin would also step up support for Ukraine's armed forces, Reuters reported.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement that images of the victims show “the unbelievable brutality of the Russian leadership” and those who follow its propaganda. She added that there’s a fear similar photos might emerge from other areas in Ukraine occupied by Russian troops.

“The federal government has therefore decided today to declare as persona non grata a significant number of members of the Russian Embassy who have worked every day against our freedom and against the cohesion of our society here in Germany,” Baerbock said.

The Foreign Ministry counts 104 accredited Russian diplomats in Germany.

“We will initiate further measures of response together with our partners; we will further tighten the existing sanctions against Russia; we will resolutely increase our support for the Ukrainian armed forces and we will also strengthen NATO’s eastern flank,” she said.