Iuliia Mendel

Iuliia Volodymyrivna Mendel is a Ukrainian journalist and author who served as press secretary to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from 2019 to 2021. She is known for her two memoirs about that period and for her later, highly public break with Zelenskyy. As of 2026, Mendel writes an opinion column for the Washington Post and is at work on a new book critical of the former president.

Her public profile has shifted sharply. Once the loyal voice of the presidential administration, she now advocates for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and has accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the war for political gain. Her 2026 interview on the Tucker Carlson Show drew worldwide attention and widespread condemnation from Ukrainian media and officials, who accused her of spreading Russian disinformation. Mendel's trajectory from insider to critic has made her a polarizing figure in the ongoing debate over the war. [edit]

Iuliia Mendel was born in Henichesk, a port city on the Sea of Azov in southern Ukraine. Details about her childhood and family are scarce in public sources. She entered journalism in her early twenties, spending roughly 14 years as a television and print reporter covering Ukrainian politics. Her work took her through the country's major political upheavals, including the Orange Revolution and the Euromaidan protests.

Before joining the presidential administration, Mendel also worked as a communications consultant for the World Bank, a role that sharpened her skills in strategic messaging. By her own account, she accumulated 18 years of experience covering Ukraine, Russia, and global events. That background made her a natural fit when Zelenskyy's team sought a press secretary with deep media knowledge. [edit]

Mendel's breakthrough came in June 2019 when she was appointed press secretary to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For two years, she served as the public voice of the administration, navigating a period of intense political turbulence. Her tenure was not without incident; she faced accusations of physically confronting journalists, which fueled debates about press freedom under the new government.

After leaving the post in July 2021, Mendel published two memoirs. Each of Us Is President came out in July 2021, followed by The Fight of Our Lives in September 2022, released by Simon & Schuster. The latter, written during the early months of the full-scale invasion, offered a sympathetic view of Zelenskyy and Ukraine's struggle. She later became a fellow at the Atlantic Council and began writing opinion pieces for the Washington Post.

In 2025, Mendel's public stance shifted. She began calling for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that Ukraine was losing its nation by continuing to resist. In May 2026, she appeared on the Tucker Carlson Show, where she accused Zelenskyy of being a dictator and an obstacle to peace. The interview prompted fact-checks from Ukrainian outlets and drew accusations that she was amplifying Kremlin narratives. Mendel has since announced plans for a new book that promises to expose the behind-the-scenes story of the Zelenskyy administration. [edit]

Mendel's public image has undergone a dramatic reversal. From 2019 to 2021, she was seen as a loyal, if sometimes combative, spokesperson for Zelenskyy. Her memoirs reinforced that image, presenting the president as a reformer fighting corruption. By 2025, she had repositioned herself as a vocal critic, advocating for peace talks and accusing her former boss of authoritarian behavior.

Media coverage of her is sharply divided. Western conservative outlets like The American Conservative have given her a platform as a truth-teller, while Ukrainian mainstream media and fact-checkers have condemned her as a spreader of Russian-friendly narratives. Her social media presence reflects this divide: she uses X to promote her new book and criticize the government, while her Instagram offers a more personal, less political view. [edit]

Iuliia Mendel occupies a unique space in modern political discourse, defined not by the adoration of a fanbase but by the intense polarization of a global audience. Her public presence has shifted from the structured environment of the Ukrainian presidential administration to the volatile arena of international media commentary, where her statements trigger immediate and severe reactions rather than organized fan campaigns. There is no formal fandom name associated with her career; her engagement consists entirely of political analysts, journalists, and the general public reacting to her controversial positions on the war in Ukraine. The narrative surrounding her is dominated by a single, verified event: her May 2026 interview with Tucker Carlson, which transformed her reputation from a loyal insider to a figure accused of spreading disinformation and echoing Kremlin narratives. This incident serves as the primary anchor for all current discussions about her legacy, marking a sharp inversion of her earlier status as a defender of the Zelenskyy administration. Despite the high volume of media coverage and the widespread condemnation she faces, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated this person, but they do not currently hold a placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list). Consequently, Iuliia Mendel is not ranked among the world's most famous individuals in any published category at this time.[edit]

Mendel's Instagram bio describes her as having '18 years of experience covering Ukraine, Russia, and global events.' On X, she has called herself an 'ex-spokesperson for President Zelenskyy' and teased a 'bold new exposé.' She maintains a LinkedIn profile that documents her career steps, including her World Bank consulting work. Her two memoirs were published in different languages: the first in Ukrainian, the second in English for an international audience. She has given talks at venues like the Streicker Center in New York. A widely retold story defines her current mythology: her appearance on the Tucker Carlson show in May 2026. During this televised interview, she allegedly criticized President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming he 'thrives on this war' and suggesting she was 'ready to give up Donbas.' The remarks sparked immediate outrage, with legal experts suggesting the interview could amount to treason under Ukrainian law. Although subsequent fact-checks labeled her claims as hoax-filled, the incident remains the defining moment of her post-government career, shifting her public image from a respected official to a polarizing figure accused of pro-Kremlin sympathies.[edit]

Mendel is married to Pavlo Kukhta, though few details about their relationship are public. No information about children, parents, or siblings has been shared in the sources reviewed. The couple keeps their personal life largely out of the spotlight, and Mendel rarely discusses family matters in interviews or on social media. [edit]

Mendel is most closely associated with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for whom she worked as press secretary and about whom she has written two books. Her 2026 interview with Tucker Carlson brought her into the orbit of American conservative media. She is married to Pavlo Kukhta. Unverified reports have linked her to a circle of opposition figures allegedly backed by businessman Vadym Novynskyi. [edit]

Iuliia Mendel is married to Pavlo Kukhta. Public information about their relationship is scarce; the couple has not shared details about when they met or married. No other confirmed romantic relationships have been documented in the sources reviewed. As of 2026, Mendel remains married to Kukhta, and there are no reports of separation or divorce. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Iuliia Mendel's net worth in 2026 at $1 Million. Her income stems from several sources. As press secretary from 2019 to 2021, she earned a government salary, though exact figures are not public. Her two memoirs generated advances and royalties, with The Fight of Our Lives published by Simon & Schuster likely bringing a significant advance. Her ongoing role as an opinion author for the Washington Post provides a steady income, as did her fellowship at the Atlantic Council. She also earns from speaking engagements, such as her event at the Streicker Center in New York. These streams, accumulated over a career spanning journalism, government service, and writing, support the current estimate.[edit]