{
  "id": 17988629,
  "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",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-03T16:39:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Interfax-Ukraine",
    "slug": "interfax-ukraine",
    "url": "https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1230742.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's press secretary, Yulia Mendel, has been informed by prosecutors that she is suspected of high treason and aiding Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. According to the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), Mendel used her position to spread narratives that discredited Ukraine and weakened its international support. Statements made by Mendel in interviews and on social media platforms, including a comparison to the Soviet Union and claims of a lack of democracy, were cited as evidence. Law enforcement officials stated that her actions, including disseminating materials that justified Russia's aggression, violated national security and contributed to the erosion of Ukraine's information security. Mendel was informed of the charges in absentia, and the investigation is being conducted by the Main Investigation Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine.",
  "summary": "Prosecutors from the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), in collaboration with investigators from the Main Investigation Department of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), have gathered sufficient evidence to notify the former press secretary of the President of Ukraine that she is suspected of high treason and of justifying the Russian Federation's armed aggression against Ukraine.",
  "key_points": [
    "Yulia Mendel, former press secretary, faces suspicion of high treason.",
    "Prosecutors allege she aided Russia's aggression against Ukraine.",
    "Charges stem from spreading discrediting narratives and undermining international support."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-11-03T16:32:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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."
}