{
  "id": 17988496,
  "title": "Ukraine names Iuliia Mendel, Zelensky’s former press secretary, as a treason suspect",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/ukraine-names-iuliia-mendel-zelenskys-former-press-secretary-as-a",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T16:32:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/11/03/ukraine-names-yulia-mendel-zelensky-s-former-press-secretary-as-a-treason-suspect"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office has accused Iuliia Mendel, who served as press secretary to President Volodymyr Zelensky from 2019 to 2021, of treason and aiding Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. Prosecutors allege that Mendel used her position and influence to disseminate pro-Russian narratives and undermine Ukraine's reputation. Key evidence includes her public social media posts and interviews, such as the one with Tucker Carlson in May 2026 where she harshly criticized Zelensky. Russian propaganda extensively utilized her statements, according to the Prosecutor General's Office. Mendel's tenure as Zelensky's press secretary spanned the early phase of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.",
  "summary": "Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said Iuliia Mendel, a former press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is suspected of treason and justifying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.",
  "key_points": [
    "Prosecutor General's Office accuses Iuliia Mendel of treason.",
    "Mendel allegedly disseminated pro-Russian narratives.",
    "Social media posts and interviews support charges."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "Ex-presidential press secretary Mendel notified of suspicion of treason",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/ex-presidential-press-secretary-mendel-notified-of-suspicion-of",
        "published": "2026-11-03T16:39:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Ukraine suspects former Zelenskyy spokesperson Yulia Mendel of treason over public statements",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/ukraine-suspects-former-zelenskyy-spokesperson-yulia-mendel-of",
        "published": "2026-11-03T17:01:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Post",
        "title": "Zelensky’s Former Press Secretary Iuliia Mendel Accused of Treason",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/zelenskys-former-press-secretary-iuliia-mendel-accused-of-treason",
        "published": "2026-11-03T17:03:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Ukraine charges Zelensky's former press secretary Iuliia Mendel with treason",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/ukraine-charges-zelenskys-former-press-secretary-iuliia-mendel-with",
        "published": "2026-11-03T17:32:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}