MOSCOW — A Russian diplomat who gained a reputation as a hawk during his tenure at the Defense Ministry was named the new ambassador to the United States.

Anatoly Antonov, 62, was appointed by President Vladimir Putin. He takes the job amid badly strained US-Russia relations after the approval of a new wave of US sanctions against Moscow and the Kremlin’s decision to oust many US diplomatic personnel from Russia.

He succeeds Sergei Kislyak, who found himself at the center of controversy amid claims Russia interfered in the US presidential election.

Kislyak’s contacts with members of President Trump’s team have been part of congressional and FBI investigations into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Russia has denied that it interfered in any way.

Separately on Monday, the US diplomatic mission to Russia said it planned to sharply reduce visa services because of Moscow’s order to cut its staff, the latest in a series of tit-for-tat moves by the countries.

The embassy said that, beginning Wednesday, it would suspend issuing all nonimmigrant visas — such as for business, work, and tourism — and that starting Sept. 1 it would issue such visas only in Moscow “for as long as our staffing levels are reduced.’’

The Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said the announcement was “another attempt to make the Russian citizen angry about the actions of the Russian government.’’

Associated Press