Trump signs late Senator Lindsey Graham’s ‘sanctions from hell’ law against Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a new sanctions bill against Russia, dubbed the "sanctions from hell," on September 17, 2026. The legislation, known officially as the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," expands and authorizes sanctions against Russia and extends existing ones on Iran. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the president's support of the bill.

The late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who authored the bill, emphasized the importance of keeping pressure on Russia and strengthening sanctions, particularly targeting countries that engage in business with Russia. The law empowers the president to impose 100% tariffs on Russia's top five energy buyers and sanctions on various entities, including defense, energy, financial institutions, the shadow fleet, and prominent political and military figures.

Despite opposition from some Democrats and business representatives who feared unintended consequences for consumers, the bill passed the House of Representatives. Meduza, in its commitment to transparency, confirms that the story was written by one of its journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model adhering to strict editorial standards.