Ukraine's Zelenskiy imposes sanctions on former press secretary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy imposed sanctions on former press secretary Yuliia Mendel and nine others on Sunday, accusing them of spreading Russian propaganda and supporting Russia’s aggressive policy toward Ukraine. Mendel, who worked with Zelenskiy from 2019 to 2021 before Russia’s full-scale invasion, said on Facebook that sanctions against Ukrainian citizens are unconstitutional, without addressing the specific allegations. The decree orders measures for 10 years, including asset freezes and trade restrictions. While sanctions are commonly used against political figures, the move against a former staffer drew attention. Similar sanctions were imposed in 2025 on Petro Poroshenko.