The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General, has in absentia notified Iuliia Mendel, former press secretary to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of suspicion. According to the investigation, the suspect is engaged in "information and subversive activities" against the state. This was reported by the SBU press service, cited by RBC-Ukraine, Slovo i Dilo, UNIAN, and other media outlets. The investigation is being conducted by investigators from the Main Investigative Directorate of the SBU under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
What exactly is she accused of
Investigators have incriminated Mendel under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine simultaneously: Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law), and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as legitimate, or denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, and glorification of its participants). According to the agency, a "series of measures and expert examinations" established that in public statements and social media posts, the suspect discredited Ukraine on the international arena and justified the Kremlin regime and the full-scale war it launched. The suspicion was served in absentia: since Mendel is outside Ukraine, comprehensive measures are underway to bring her to justice, according to the SBU.
Context: A high-profile scandal in the spring of 2026
The charges fit into a series of resonant statements made by the former press secretary, which sparked a public scandal in May 2026. In interviews, including one with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Mendel revealed several details about working with the head of state, calling Volodymyr Zelenskyy "hidden evil," while observers noted she provided no evidence to back up her claims. Her assertion that Ukraine was allegedly ready to cede Donbas in 2022 to end the war caused particular outrage.
Office of the President's reaction
The Office of the President of Ukraine reacted to these accusations, categorically refuting the voiced statements. Officials stated that the former press secretary is "long gone out of her mind" and dismissed her remarks as untrue. According to the investigation's logic, it was these public statements that formed the basis for the charges of discrediting the state and justifying aggression.
What comes next
Mendel herself is not quoted in public SBU statements; her position regarding the announced suspicion is not provided in the agency's materials. Since the suspect is abroad, law enforcement officers state that comprehensive measures to bring her to responsibility are ongoing. The further course of the case, including potential international procedures, will depend on the country of her actual location and the stance of the relevant authorities.
