Sanctions law, Duma vote and a missile coalition: 18 September 2026
A look back at a day when Washington enacted a new Russia sanctions law, Russians began a three-day parliamentary vote and Poland joined a European missile defence effort.
What did 18 September 2026 bring for the politics of the war? Several developments touched on Russia, Ukraine and European security at once.
Washington enacts sanctions law
US president Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The law authorises and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs and prohibitions on Russia, and extends existing sanctions on Iran. The bill had cleared the House of Representatives on 16 September 2026 with bipartisan backing. As passed, it imposes sanctions on Russia's energy revenues, financial institutions, officials and shadow fleet, and authorises tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Russians begin voting
On the same date, Russians began voting for the 450 seats of the State Duma, with balloting spread over three days. The vote followed Ukrainian attacks on oil infrastructure. It took place under strict control during the war, alongside a continuing crackdown on the anti-war opposition. The anti-war party Yabloko had been disqualified from running.
A filmmaker labelled a foreign agent
Russia also designated the filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev a foreign agent. The status brings financial restrictions, reporting requirements and mandatory labels on published material. Zvyagintsev lives abroad and has criticised the war and president Vladimir Putin.
Poland joins missile defence effort
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland had joined the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition, which is developing a joint anti-ballistic missile defence system with several other European countries. The coalition had been established on 13 July 2026 by Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, with the aim of building an integrated anti-ballistic missile defence capability for Europe.
Taken together, the day's events showed pressure on Russia through sanctions law, continued tight political control inside the country, and growing European cooperation on air defence.
