Ukraine charges Zelensky's ex-press secretary Iuliia Mendel with treason
SBU and Prosecutor General's Office accuse Mendel, now a vocal Zelensky critic, of spreading Kremlin narratives in absentia.
What to know
- Ukraine's SBU and Prosecutor General's Office charged Iuliia Mendel, Zelensky's press secretary from 2019-2021, with treason in absentia on November 3, 2026.
- Charges cite her May 2026 Tucker Carlson interview calling Zelensky 'the main obstacle to peace' and a September appearance at an AfD-hosted event in Germany.
- Mendel denies any collaboration with Russia, framing the case as retaliation for her public criticism of corruption and press freedom under Zelensky.
- Because Mendel is abroad, the charges were filed in absentia and her guilt must still be proven in court.
“The materials on which this suspicion is based are my public statements in Western media and on social media — specifically those concerning revelations of corruption of Zelensky's inner circle, the absence of freedom of speech, and political persecution”
Iuliia Mendel, Former press secretary to Zelensky · Kyiv Independent ↗ · Nov 2
Iuliia Mendel Former press secretary to Zelensky, now charged with treasonVolodymyr Zelensky President of UkraineSecurity Service of Ukraine (SBU) Investigating agencyProsecutor General's Office of Ukraine Charging authority
Tucker Carlson U.S. commentator
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Mendel denies collaboration, calls case a free-speech matter
Responding to the charges, Mendel said the case rests on her public remarks about corruption and lack of press freedom in Zelensky's circle, and denied any collaboration with Russia.
“If there had been any collaboration with the Russians, that is exactly what they would have written... There is none.... This is a matter of freedom of speech…”
— Iuliia Mendel -
first by Kyiv Independent, 5d ago
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🇺🇦 The Security Service of # Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office charged former President Volodymyr Zelensky's press secretary-turned-critic, Iuliia Mendel, with treason in absentia on Nov. 3. The agencies accused Mendel of conducting "information and subversive activities against Ukraine" and "justifying the Kremlin regime and the…
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SBU and prosecutors charge Mendel with treason in absentia
Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office and Security Service (SBU) charged Mendel, Zelensky's former press secretary, with treason and justifying Russia's armed aggression, alleging she used her public profile to spread narratives benefiting Russia.
“Ukraine's Security Service has charged Yulia Mendel, President Zelenskyy's former press secretary, in absentia with high treason.”
— @United24media -
first by Meduza EN, 5d ago
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⚡️ Ukraine’s Security Service has charged Yulia Mendel, President Zelenskyy’s former press secretary, in absentia with high treason. Mendel, who served from 2019 to 2021, is accused of spreading Kremlin propaganda and justifying Russian aggression.
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background
Mendel speaks at AfD-hosted side event in Germany — Mendel spoke at a side event at the invitation of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, whose members have criticized military aid to Ukraine.
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background
Mendel criticizes Zelensky in Tucker Carlson interview — Mendel appeared on U.S. commentator Tucker Carlson's podcast and called Zelensky 'the main obstacle to peace,' a claim Ukrainian prosecutors later cite as part of her alleged pro-Kremlin messaging.