Zelensky Hits Former Press Secretary Iuliia Mendel With 10-Year Sanctions
Zelensky imposed 10-year sanctions on former press secretary Mendel and nine Russian citizens. The move follows Mendel’s controversial May interview with Tucker Carlson, in which she made several claims about Zelensky and the war.
Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council has imposed a 10-year ban on former presidential press secretary Iuliia Mendel, along with nine Russian citizens. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the decree on September 13, 2026, following the recommendation of the Security Service of Ukraine. The list of individuals subject to the sanctions is dominated by Russian nationals, including Svetlana Larina, Izabella Liberman, and Yevheniy Strunkin.
Mendel, who served Zelensky from 2019 to 2021, is the only Ukrainian citizen on the list. The sanctions, which include asset freezes and entry bans, are intended to prevent capital flight and restrict movement. Mendel's social media accounts on Instagram, X, and Facebook are also blocked within Ukraine. She resigned from her press secretary role in 2021 and later published a book in September 2022 titled "The Fight of Our Lives."
Following a May 2026 interview with US talk show host Tucker Carlson, Mendel was scrutinized for making allegations about Zelensky that were later found to be misleading or unsupported.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
