Zelensky’s Former Press Secretary Iuliia Mendel Accused of Treason

Ukraine’s Security Service has notified Iuliia Mendel, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s former press secretary who has made a string of misleading claims about Ukrainian authorities in foreign media, of suspicion of high treason. Mendel, who according to media reports lives in the United States with her husband, is accused of justifying Russia’s full-scale war and was notified of the suspicion in absentia. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced the move on Tuesday, Nov. 3, noting that it acted jointly with the Prosecutor General’s Office.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Following comprehensive measures and relevant expert examinations, it was established that in her public statements and social media posts, Mendel discredits Ukraine internationally and justifies the Kremlin regime and the full-scale war it launched against our country,” the SBU said. The notice of suspicion, however, stops well short of a conviction. Under Ukraine’s Constitution, Mendel remains presumed innocent unless a court finds her guilty. Charges under martial law Prosecutors cited Part 2 of Article 111 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which covers high treason committed under martial law. They also cited Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2, which criminalize justifying or denying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, presenting it as lawful, and glorifying those who take part in it. “As the suspect is outside Ukraine, comprehensive measures are underway to bring her to justice,” the SBU said, adding that investigators from the SBU’s Main Investigative Department are handling the case. Procedural supervision will be provided by the Prosecutor’s Office. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine’s Energy Sector Faces One of Largest Attacks Yet Thousands of energy workers have been working around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure and restore power. Under sanctions since September The case follows earlier sanctions imposed on Mendel. Zelensky signed Decree No. 901/2026 on Sept. 13, which enacted a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) decision targeting 10 people at the SBU’s request. Mendel was the only Ukrainian citizen on the list; the other nine were exclusively Russian nationals. The restrictions imposed by Kyiv are in effect for at least 10 years and include asset freezes, a trade ban, measures against capital outflows and a ban on entering Ukraine. Certain measures, such as the stripping of state awards, remain indefinite. Mendel faced one additional measure that did not apply to other sanctioned individuals: her social media accounts, including Instagram, X and Facebook, were blocked for users inside Ukraine. From press secretary to public critic Before entering the presidential office through an open competition, Mendel was a journalist who wrote for Ukrainian and foreign media. She held the post from 2019 to 2021 and claimed she left on “good terms.” In September 2022, she published a book, “The Fight of Our Lives: My Time with Zelensky, Ukraine’s Battle for Democracy, and What It Means for the World,” which credited the president with changing Ukraine for the better. After stepping down from her post, she wrote columns and offered commentary on Ukrainian politics to international outlets. Her diplomatic stance, however, shifted sharply in May 2026. Speaking during an interview with US conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson, she accused Zelensky of authoritarianism and corruption, while claiming that the public trust in him was collapsing among Ukrainian citizens. None of these accusations appeared in her book. Unfounded claims about Ukrainian authorities Asked by Carlson whether Zelensky was a dictator, Mendel pointed to the restrictions that bar military-age men from leaving Ukraine. “Well, he is a dictator. The borders have been closed now for four years. It’s illegal. The human rights violation is enormous, the persecution of the people,” she said. The travel limits, however, stem from Ukraine’s martial law and from constitutional and mobilization legislation that existed before Zelensky even took office. In 2025, the government also relaxed the rules to allow men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country. Meanwhile, Zelensky won 73% of the vote in 2019. A separate April 2026 poll put public trust in him at 58%. Mendel also claimed that a lawmaker was jailed for treason days after urging Zelensky to end the war on Telegram. She was most likely referring to Yevhen Shevchenko, a lawmaker known for praising Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Shevchenko and fellow lawmaker Oleksandr Dubinsky, both arrested for treason in 2024-25, were detained on suspicion of ties to Russia or other criminal conduct – not over criticism of the president. As of April 2026, neither had been convicted. Mendel’s more sensational claims, including Zelensky’s alleged drug use and orders to produce Nazi-style propaganda, rest only on her own account of private conversations. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.