MOSCOW, July 30 (RAPSI) – The United States has approved sanctions against the Bank of Moscow, VTB, Russian Agricultural Bank and United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), RIA Novosti has announced, citing information posted on the Finance Ministry’s website.

US nationals and companies have been prohibited from buying the debt securities of these banks or affiliated legal entities, as well as their property for more than 90 days. The sanctions do not concern these banks’ other transactions.

USC is a subcontractor for STX France shipyard in Saint Nazaire under a contract on the construction of Mistral helicopter carriers.

A EUR 1.2 billion contract for the construction of the first two Mistral helicopter carriers was signed between the Russian export-import defense agent Rosoboronexport and France’s DCNS in 2011.

The US State Department has said that even the delivery of one Mistral carrier to Russia was unacceptable.