Ukraine's President Zelenskiy imposes sanctions on former press secretary

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on 13 September imposing sanctions on a former press secretary and nine other individuals. The decree accuses the ten of disseminating Russian propaganda and supporting Russia’s aggressive policy toward Ukraine.

The sanctions, which will remain in force for ten years, include a freeze of assets and restrictions on trade for the designated persons. The measure targets both Russian and Ukrainian nationals identified as spreading disinformation and supporting Russia’s war effort.

Yuliia Mendel, who served as Zelensky’s press secretary from 2019 to 2021, responded on Facebook that imposing sanctions on Ukrainian citizens is unconstitutional. She did not address the specific allegations of propaganda or support for Russia.

Mendel has been publicly critical of Zelensky since 2025, when several members of the president’s inner circle became involved in corruption investigations. The individuals named in the new sanctions have denied the accusations, and no court proceedings have yet been initiated against them.

Sanctioning a former staff member is described as an unusual step, although similar actions have been taken against political figures. In 2025, for example, Ukraine sanctioned former president Petro Poroshenko with an asset freeze and a ban on capital withdrawals, citing national‑security concerns. The current decree follows that precedent by using sanctions as a tool to counter perceived disinformation and hostile influence.