Zelenskiy Sanctions Ex-Press Secretary Yuliia Mendel

Mendel, who managed communications for the administration between 2019 and 2021, labeled the move unconstitutional for Ukrainian citizens in a statement posted to social media. She bypassed the specific accusations of supporting Russian aggression, focusing instead on the legal standing of the executive order. Her tenure ended well before the full-scale invasion, yet she has remained a vocal critic of the current administration, frequently spotlighting corruption allegations within the president’s inner circle throughout the previous year.

The inclusion of a former staffer on such a restrictive list represents a rare escalation in domestic political maneuvering. While the government has previously applied similar measures against high-profile political figures like former President Petro Poroshenko, targeting a former communications aide signals a sharpening of the administration's stance toward public dissent.