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Ukraine names Iuliia Mendel, Zelensky’s former press secretary, as a treason suspect
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office says Iuliia Mendel, a former press secretary to President Volodymyr Zelensky, is suspected of treason and justifying Russia’s armed aggression. Investigators allege she used her public profile to spread narratives that benefited Russia and discredited Ukraine.
The allegations partly concern her social media posts and comments to foreign media, including a May 2026 interview with Tucker Carlson in which she sharply criticised Zelensky. The office said Russian propaganda made extensive use of her statements. Mendel worked with Zelensky from 2019 to 2021.
In short
- Iuliia Mendel has been named a treason suspect by Ukraine’s prosecutors.
- Investigators cite her public statements and foreign media appearances.
- Mendel was Zelensky’s press secretary from 2019 to 2021.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the investigation could argue that, during a war, public figures have a responsibility not to knowingly amplify narratives that aid an aggressor, and that credible evidence of deliberate assistance or justification of aggression warrants scrutiny under the law. They may see a formal suspicion as a way to investigate that evidence and protect national security, while recognising that suspicion is not proof of guilt.
The case against
Critics could argue that sharply criticising a president or speaking to foreign media is political expression, and that treating such speech as treason risks chilling dissent and weakening democratic accountability. They may also stress that Russian outlets’ use of someone’s remarks does not by itself show that the speaker intended to help Russia, so the case should depend on specific evidence and fair legal process.
Explained simply
Iuliia Mendel served as press secretary to President Volodymyr Zelensky from 2019 to 2021, during the early years of his presidency. The role involved communicating the president’s positions to the public and media.
Ukraine has been at war with Russia since Russia’s 2014 seizure of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine; Russia launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. In Ukraine, treason and publicly justifying Russia’s aggression are serious criminal allegations, while public figures’ statements can also circulate widely through Russian media.
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