Ukraine imposes sanctions on former spokesperson Iuliia Mendel

On September 14, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree imposing ten-year sanctions on ten individuals, including his former press secretary Iuliia Mendel, who served in his administration between 2019 and 2021. The authorities accuse these individuals of disseminating Russian propaganda and supporting Moscow's aggressive policies against Ukraine. The imposed measures include the freezing of assets and significant restrictions on commercial transactions.

In response to the decree, Mendel stated on Facebook that imposing such sanctions on Ukrainian citizens is unconstitutional, though she did not directly address the specific allegations of pro-Russian sentiment. The suspects involved have denied all accusations, and no formal court cases have been initiated regarding these claims. This action marks a rare use of sanctions against former government insiders, mirroring similar measures previously applied to opposition figures like Petro Poroshenko in 2025. Background context suggests tension between Mendel and the current administration, as she had previously criticized Zelenskyy’s leadership following corruption scandals involving his close circle. As of now, the situation remains in the phase of executive enforcement, with no legal proceedings scheduled.