Summary
A recent interview between Tucker Carlson and Iuliia Mendel, former press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has brought renewed scrutiny to the issue of corruption and governance in Ukraine. Mendel, who served as Zelensky’s spokesperson from 2019 to 2021, outlined a series of allegations regarding systemic financial misconduct, including the use of unofficial “black” payments to government officials and the manipulation of state-owned enterprises for personal enrichment. She also criticized Western media for initially downplaying these issues and described an increasingly repressive environment for dissenters, with opposition politicians and activists facing prosecution or punitive conscription. Mendel’s claims are supported in part by findings from international watchdogs and investigative journalists, though some details remain based on her personal testimony. The Energoatom/Operation Midas scandal stands as the most extensively documented example of high-level corruption, while broader patterns of financial misconduct and repression continue to challenge Ukraine’s democratic trajectory.
Detailed Report
1. Iuliia Mendel: Former Press Secretary to President Zelensky
Iuliia Mendel is a Ukrainian journalist who served as press secretary to President Volodymyr Zelensky from June 2019 to July 2021. Selected from thousands of applicants, Mendel managed presidential communications during a period of significant political and military upheaval. After her resignation, she authored a memoir detailing her experiences and has remained active as a commentator. Mendel appeared on the Tucker Carlson Show in an episode titled "Zelensky's Press Secretary Reveals All: Cocaine, Cover-ups, and the Only Obstacle Preventing Peace", released on May 11, 2026. The interview provided Mendel a platform to discuss her concerns about systemic corruption and governance in Ukraine, drawing on her direct experience within the administration and subsequent observations as a journalist and author.
2. Corruption Allegations
2a. The Energoatom/Operation Midas Scandal
Mendel referenced the Energoatom, or “Operation Midas,” scandal as a prime example of large-scale corruption within Ukraine’s state apparatus. This case involved a $100 million kickback and money laundering scheme centered on the state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom, and was investigated by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. Senior officials and close associates of President Zelensky were implicated, resulting in high-profile arrests and asset seizures. For further information on the Energoatom/Operation Midas investigation, see our previous cable here.
2b. Systemic Financial Misconduct
Mendel described a deeply entrenched system of unofficial financial incentives within the Ukrainian government, commonly referred to as the “black” payment system. According to her account, it is routine for government officials to receive substantial unofficial cash supplements—reportedly as much as $5,000 per month—on top of their modest official salaries. These payments are distributed in cash, remain undeclared and untaxed, and serve to secure loyalty while perpetuating a culture of secrecy and dependency within the state apparatus.
The existence of such informal payments has been acknowledged by anti-corruption watchdogs and investigative journalists. Transparency International Ukraine has repeatedly highlighted the problem of shadow compensation, noting that low official salaries for civil servants and political appointees create fertile ground for these practices. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has documented similar patterns of unofficial payrolls and off-the-books bonuses, with sources describing how these supplements are often distributed in envelopes or bags and are used to reward loyalty or ensure compliance with senior officials. Mendel further alleged that this system extends to senior officials and political appointees, who may be offered substantial monthly supplements as a condition of their service. This practice, she argued, is not only widespread but also institutionalized, with payments coordinated by individuals close to the presidential administration. Reporting from The Economist and Reuters has noted that the lack of transparency in public sector compensation has contributed to a broader environment of impunity and corruption, undermining efforts to professionalize the civil service and build public trust.
In addition to the “black” payment system, Mendel raised concerns about the governance of Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas company. She alleged that President Zelensky’s associates had systematically undermined the independence of Naftogaz’s supervisory board, replacing independent directors with loyalists and using fictitious offices and shell companies linked to Naftogaz to facilitate money laundering operations. These concerns are consistent with the 2021 dismissal of Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev and the replacement of the company’s independent supervisory board with government appointees, a move that drew criticism from the European Union, the United States, and Transparency International Ukraine. Investigative reporting by OCCRP and RFE/RL has highlighted the use of fictitious offices, shell companies, and complex financial structures to siphon funds from Naftogaz and launder the proceeds through international financial networks.
3. Western Media’s Alleged Silence on Ukraine Corruption
Mendel alleged that Western media and governments have been reluctant to report on corruption within Ukraine's leadership, motivated by a desire to maintain a united front against Russian aggression. She argued that this unofficial agreement has allowed corrupt practices to persist with limited scrutiny. This claim is partially corroborated by international reporting, which has noted a tendency among some Western outlets and policymakers to avoid public criticism of Ukraine during wartime. However, following the exposure of the Energoatom scandal, major outlets began to report extensively on corruption allegations, indicating a shift toward greater transparency and accountability.
4. Authoritarianism and Repression
Mendel’s interview also addressed the increasingly authoritarian climate in Ukraine, focusing on the suppression of dissent and the punitive treatment of critics, opposition politicians, and journalists. One of the most prominent cases is that of Nestor Shufrych, a member of parliament from the Opposition Platform—For Life party, who was arrested in September 2023 on charges of treason. While the official justification centered on allegations of collaboration with Russia, critics have argued that the prosecution was politically motivated and targeted a vocal opponent of the Zelensky administration. Another high-profile case is that of Viktor Medvedchuk, a leading opposition figure and former head of the same party, who was detained by Ukrainian authorities in April 2022. Medvedchuk, known for his pro-Russian stance, was charged with treason and later exchanged in a prisoner swap with Russia. Both cases have been cited by human rights organizations as examples of the government’s willingness to use legal measures against political adversaries.
Beyond these headline cases, international watchdogs have documented a broader pattern of pressure on journalists, activists, and critics. Freedom House and Human Rights Watch have reported that investigative journalists and anti-corruption activists have faced harassment, disinformation campaigns, and, in some cases, criminal investigations widely regarded as retribution for their work. For example, anti-corruption activist Vitaliy Shabunin was subjected to a criminal investigation and raids on his home and place of military service, actions that his organization linked directly to his criticism of government corruption, as documented by Amnesty International.
Mendel further alleged that critics and dissidents have been sent to the front lines of the conflict as a punitive measure. While direct, independently verified evidence of systematic punitive conscription remains limited, Freedom House’s 2024 report notes that staff from two leading investigative journalism organizations faced conscription attempts and unlawful surveillance by the State Security Service (SSU). Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the US Department of State have also documented cases where anti-corruption activists and journalists were subjected to legal harassment, surveillance, and threats, though the Ukrainian government maintains that all mobilization is conducted according to law and denies targeting critics for military service.
Conclusion
The revelations shared by Iuliia Mendel in her interview with Tucker Carlson have reignited debate over the state of governance, corruption, and civil liberties in Ukraine. The Energoatom/Operation Midas scandal stands as the most extensively documented example of high-level financial misconduct, while Mendel’s account of systemic “black” payments and the manipulation of state enterprises highlights the persistence of unofficial practices that undermine public trust. Allegations of repression against opposition figures and activists, corroborated in part by international watchdogs, underscore the fragility of democratic norms under wartime conditions. As Ukraine continues to navigate the pressures of conflict and reform, these issues remain central to both domestic governance and international perception.