Ex-Zelensky Spokesperson Accuses Top Aide of Esoteric Rituals and Undue Influence.

Mendel's Allegations Against Andriy Yermak

According to TSN.ua: In a series of explosive claims, Yuliia Mendel, the former press secretary for President Volodymyr Zelensky, has levied serious accusations against Andriy Yermak, the head of the President's Office. Mendel asserts that Yermak engages in magic and conducts esoteric rituals, raising profound concerns about the nature of his influence over the Ukrainian leader.

Mendel, who served as Zelensky's spokesperson, revealed that as far back as 2019, she received a pointed answer to a journalist's question about Yermak's activities at a cemetery. The following year, a minister informed her that Yermak was, in fact, practicing magic. According to Mendel, in 2023, a source from an important service stated that Yermak had brought magicians from Israel, Georgia, and Latin America. She further emphasized that in 2024, a contact from the esoteric sphere reported that Yermak's magicians were involved in burning herbs and making dolls.

Yermak's Alleged Impact on Ukraine's Political Landscape

Mendel also contends that Yermak convinced Zelensky a full-scale Russian invasion would not occur. She first disclosed this information on December 2, 2025. According to her, Yermak had expressed interest in how to become Ukraine's president as early as 2019. She characterized Yermak as a "very dangerous person" and stressed that his sway over the country's economic decisions is equally alarming.

"This same king called the country's national bank and dictated what inflation rate to report and what GDP figures to use." Yuliia Mendel

Mendel noted that this issue generated significant interest, with the journalist repeating the question multiple times, so she heard it clearly. Given these allegations, the situation surrounding Andriy Yermak and his methods of influencing the president remains under intense public and media scrutiny.

Yuliia Mendel's statements have provoked a broad public outcry, as they touch not only on the persona of Andriy Yermak but also on the general political atmosphere in Ukraine. The influence of individuals engaged in dubious practices on the highest echelons of power could have serious consequences for state-level decision-making. These accusations, if substantiated, could lead to new political crises in Ukraine, particularly amid the ongoing war with Russia and the critical need for societal unity. Such claims from a former insider highlight the intense and often unconventional pressures within Ukrainian politics during a period of national existential threat.