Russia has launched one of its largest attacks on Ukraine's energy sector, targeting more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said as he accused the Trump administration of easing pressure on Moscow by waiving major new sanctions and tariffs targeting Russia.
The assault came after President Donald Trump issued an executive order waiving sanctions, restrictions and duties under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which had been designed to increase economic pressure on Moscow.
“At a time when the Russians have carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act,” Zelensky wrote on X on Saturday.
Between 7 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday local time, Russia used more than 320 Shahed drones and other weapons against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, cities and communities, according to the Ukrainian president.
In its broader account of the overnight assault, Ukraine's Air Force said on Telegram that Russia launched 332 drones overnight, including 31 jet-powered models, along with ballistic and cruise missiles, according to Ukrinform. Air defenses shot down or suppressed 293 aerial targets, while hits were recorded at 22 locations.
“The Russians have scaled up their anti-energy operation and are trying to stretch our reserves and repair capabilities as thin as possible,” Zelensky said.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Ukraine’s embassy for comment on Saturday.
Zelensky Says Sanctions Relief Encourages Putin
Zelensky directly linked his criticism of the Trump administration's sanctions decision to the scale of the Russian assault.
“A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin—all of this only encourages him to keep attacking,” Zelensky wrote on X. “We must not give up ground.”
Trump on Friday signed an executive order implementing the Graham Act while simultaneously using its national-interest waiver authority to waive the application of some sanctions, restrictions and duties under the law.
“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump said in the order.
The order sets a 500 percent tariff on Russian goods and potential 100 percent tariffs on goods from certain major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, but waives their application. The waivers remain in place until Trump or the secretary of state, in consultation with other administration officials, determines that further action is appropriate.
The order does not eliminate sanctions against Russia imposed under earlier executive orders.
Meanwhile, Trump's decision has drawn criticism from members of both parties, including several Republicans.
“What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?” Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina wrote on X Saturday. “It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians every single day.”
He called the move “beyond irresponsible.”
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas wrote on X: “Lindsey would be appalled.”
Representative Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, was also critical, writing on X: “The President is prolonging the war, not ending it.”
Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald, a German environmental and human rights nonprofit, said in a statement shared with Newsweek that Trump had “hollowed” out the law before its main sanctions could take effect, calling the waiver “a lifeline to Putin.”
“Congress must challenge this retreat and demand that the administration explain whose interests are served by shielding Russia’s energy trade from the pressure this law was designed to impose,” Kirk said.
Russia Steps Up Attacks Ahead of Winter
Russia has intensified its campaign against Ukraine's power system as colder weather approaches, targeting electricity generation, transmission and other critical infrastructure.
Zelensky said the scale and pace of the attacks were creating severe consequences despite Ukraine intercepting a significant proportion of Russia's weapons.
“Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine—right before winter,” he said. “Russia is trying to leave millions of our people without electricity and heating. Pressure is needed to stop this.”
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Trump-Russia Economic Opening
The sanctions dispute comes amid a broader shift in economic relations between Washington and Moscow.
Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 9 under which Russia would make additional diesel supplies available to U.S. and global markets. The Treasury Department subsequently authorized certain transactions involving Russian-origin diesel.
Trump has said the arrangement is intended to increase global supplies and reduce diesel costs, particularly for American farmers, truckers and families, as affordability remains a political concern ahead of the November midterm elections.
The deal has faced bipartisan opposition in Congress, with critics arguing that restoring Russian energy revenue undercuts efforts to pressure Moscow over the war.
Zelensky warned Friday that the diesel agreement could be only the beginning of a broader economic opening between Washington and Moscow.
“Because gas deals will follow. And I am absolutely certain of this,” Zelensky told reporters in Brussels. “After gas, they will lift sanctions on other things as well.”
Later the same day, Trump issued the Graham Act waivers.
Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's investment envoy and a key figure in talks between Washington and Moscow, has portrayed the diesel agreement as a possible model for expanded economic cooperation.
After Trump's waiver decision, Dmitriev called the suspension of some Graham Act provisions an “important and truly historic moment,” according to the Kyiv Independent, adding that U.S.-Russia economic dialogue would continue.
The developments have sharpened the dispute over the role of economic pressure in bringing the war to an end. Trump has defended efforts to increase Russian diesel supplies as a way to lower prices while urging Russia and Ukraine to stop striking energy infrastructure, while Zelensky argues that easing pressure on Moscow gives it greater incentive to continue the war.
Zelensky wrote on X that “we must keep trying to end the war,” rather than “give Putin every reason to continue it indefinitely.”
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Matthew Robinson and Anthony Murray.