(VOVworld) – The US announced Thursday fresh sanctions on 37 individuals and entities in Russia in relation to Ukraine’s political crisis and Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2004.

Companies building a multi-billion dollar bridge to link the Russian mainland with annexed Crimea are targets in the US’s updated sanctions blacklist. (Photo: Reuters)

The US Treasury Department said the sanctions target the Rossiya Bank and several major construction firms of Russia. Also blacklisted are 17 Ukrainian "separatists", 11 of them officials of the Republic of Crimea, according to the statement. A number of Russia’s big maritime and defense companies operating in Crimea were banned. The US Treasury Department said the move aims to hinder efforts of Russian entities to dodge current US’s sanctions.

Russia has broadened a ban on food imports from the West, which will be valid until the end of 2017.