Zelensky Hails ‘Powerful’ US Sanctions Bill After Overnight Russian Missile, Drone Attack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the US House of Representatives’ passage of a sweeping Russia sanctions bill, calling it a powerful tool to pressure Moscow toward peace after another overnight Russian attack damaged civilian and energy infrastructure across Ukraine.The House passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a 262-159 vote on Sept. 16, sending the legislation to US President Donald Trump for his signature. The bill had already passed the Senate in August.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.In a Telegram post following the vote, Zelensky wrote that the legislation passed on the same night as another major Russian attack involving ballistic missiles, other missiles and drones.“It is symbolic that the US House of Representatives’ passage of Lindsey Graham’s sanctions bill took place on the night of yet another Russian attack on Ukraine involving ballistic missiles, other missiles, and drones,” Zelensky wrote.According to him, Russian forces damaged civilian infrastructure in eight regions, including energy facilities in the Sumy and Odesa regions and residential buildings in Kyiv and Odesa.According to the latest reports, 18 people have been injured in Kyiv and seven in Odesa, with young children among the casualties. “Lindsey Graham’s bill – along with other robust sanctions measures taken by our partners against the source of this war, Russia – represents an incredibly powerful tool capable of halting this terrorist war and compelling Russia to establish peace,” Zelensky said. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky’s Former Comedy Studio Hit in Russian Strike – It’s the Symbolism Moscow Is After A Russian strike destroyed decades of Kvartal 95 history, underscoring Moscow’s fixation on symbols tied to Ukraine’s resistance. He said strong sanctions were necessary to support diplomatic efforts being conducted with the US, Europe and other partners.Zelensky thanked members of the House and Senate, as well as congressional leaders, for supporting the legislation.What the sanctions bill doesThe legislation gives the US president expanded powers to impose sanctions on Russia and entities supporting its war effort.The US House of Representatives passed a sweeping bipartisan sanctions and tariff package on Wednesday, giving Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy.The legislation targets Russia’s energy sector, defense suppliers, major financial institutions and sanctions-evasion networks, while also authorizing sanctions against individuals involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children.Its central provision allows Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying large volumes of Russian oil and gas or helping Moscow evade sanctions, potentially affecting major buyers such as China and India.The package also targets Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers, foreign suppliers supporting its defense sector and networks helping Moscow circumvent existing restrictions. It would further restrict new US investment in Russia and exports that could support the Russian military.Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who worked on the legislation with Graham, described the measures as “scorching sanctions” intended to “throttle Putin’s war machine.”The bill is named after the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a prominent supporter of Ukraine who spent more than a year building support for the legislation before his death in July. Its passage marks a major congressional effort to increase economic pressure on Moscow as Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine continues. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.