Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has imposed 10-year sanctions on his former press secretary Yuliia Mendel, accusing her and nine other people of spreading Russian propaganda and supporting Moscow’s policies toward Ukraine.
The sanctions were announced in a presidential decree on Sunday and include freezing assets and imposing restrictions on trade, according to the document.
The presidency said the order targets 10 Ukrainian and Russian individuals who it says spread disinformation and Russian propaganda and support Russia’s aggressive policy toward Ukraine.
Mendel served as Zelenskyy’s first press secretary after he became president, holding the position from 2019 to 2021, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Mendel Rejects the Action
Mendel responded on Facebook, saying she had expected the sanctions but arguing that imposing them on Ukrainian citizens was unconstitutional.
She did not directly address the accusations against her. Instead, she accused Zelenskyy of using sanctions against people who advocate for peace in Ukraine.
Mendel has publicly criticized Zelenskyy’s record in interviews since last year, as several members of the president’s inner circle became embroiled in corruption scandals. Those accused have denied the allegations, which have not been tested in court.
Sanctions Unusual for Former Staff Member
The use of sanctions against a former presidential staff member is unusual, although Ukraine has previously used the measure against political figures.
In 2025, Ukraine sanctioned former President and opposition politician Petro Poroshenko, including through an asset freeze and a ban on withdrawing capital from the country. The country’s domestic intelligence agency cited national security reasons for that action.
Zelenskyy’s latest decree applies the restrictions to Mendel and nine other individuals for 10 years.
