The sanctions President Obama ordered Thursday are against two Russian intelligence services as well as the head of GRU intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Korobov, and three of his deputies, AP reports. Two Russian nationals, Alexei Belan and Yevgeny Bogachev, are also sanctioned and wanted by the FBI for cyber crimes. The Obama administration also announced it is shutting down compounds that have been used by Russian personnel and expelled 35 diplomats. The sweeping actions come just three weeks before the Trump administration takes office and are in retaliation for alleged hacking attacks meant to interfere with the U.S. presidential election, NBC News notes. Deputy U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner added that the actions against Russia are also in response "to a pattern of harassment of our diplomats overseas." Russia has denied any involvement in the cyberattacks and President Putin called the decision for sanctions "groundless."