Iuliia Mendel, the former spokesperson for Volodymyr Zelensky, has publicly condemned the Ukrainian president’s decision to honor the UPA, arguing that it has severely damaged relations with Poland and fueled domestic division.
The UPA controversy
The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is held responsible for the genocide of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia in July 1943. In late May, President Zelensky designated the Independent Special Operations Center “North” of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the name “Heroes of the UPA.”
This decision triggered outrage among Polish officials. Karol Nawrocki announced a session of the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle to discuss potentially rescinding Zelensky’s decoration.
Mendel’s assessment of presidential policy
Iuliia Mendel described the move as an unnecessary step that plunged the country deeper into an abyss of national consciousness. She argued that the decision harmed relations with Poland and added a controversial layer to the image of Ukraine’s leadership without providing any political benefit.
Mendel suggested that for the president, historical ultraradical organizations hold little meaning, and the decision was likely driven by ineffective PR advice. She maintained that most Ukrainians do not prioritize these historical issues, yet the action effectively destroyed trust with Warsaw.
Concerns over political survival
The former spokesperson claimed that the president relies on fear and the continuation of the war as his primary tools to maintain power, as he lacks alternative offerings for the populace. She previously gained attention for an interview with Tucker Carlson, where she alleged that the president is aware of high-level corruption and that the war is no longer a black-and-white struggle.
Official backlash from Kyiv
The interview sparked a sharp response from Ukrainian officials. Dmytro Lytwyn, an advisor to the president, dismissed Mendel’s credibility, while Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha labeled her statements as lies and manipulations that serve Russian interests. Many Ukrainian journalists and experts have similarly criticized her remarks as aligning with hostile propaganda.
