A former Ukrainian presidential press secretary claims the country’s leader has a cocaine problem that’s been an “open secret” among government insiders for years, raising serious questions about billions in American taxpayer dollars sent to Kiev.
Former Insider Goes Public on Carlson Show
Yulia Mendel served as Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretary from 2019 to 2021 before becoming a vocal critic of his administration. On May 12, 2026, she appeared on The Tucker Carlson Show and characterized the Ukrainian president’s alleged cocaine use as an “open secret” within government circles. Mendel cited hearsay from multiple sources who claimed to have witnessed Zelensky in clubs, including one account from 2021, and mentioned an alleged supplier connected to Kvartal 95, Zelensky’s former comedy production studio. She acknowledged having no personal eyewitness accounts but described observing behavioral patterns that raised red flags during her time working closely with the president.
Behavioral Patterns Described by Former Staffer
During the interview, Mendel detailed specific observations from her tenure as press secretary that she found troubling. She recounted how Zelensky would take 15-minute bathroom breaks immediately before media interviews, emerging as what she described as a “different person” with noticeably altered demeanor and energy. These dramatic transformations became a pattern she witnessed repeatedly while managing his press operations. The former spokesperson also alleged that Zelensky demanded “Goebbels-style propaganda” from his communications team, a claim that speaks to broader concerns about media manipulation and authoritarian tendencies. Shortly after the interview aired, Mendel was reportedly added to Ukraine’s “Mirotvorets” database, a controversial list that has been linked to threats against perceived enemies of the Ukrainian state.
Resurfacing 2019 Campaign Controversies
These allegations aren’t entirely new. During Zelensky’s 2019 presidential campaign against Petro Poroshenko, drug use accusations first surfaced publicly. Zelensky challenged his opponent to mutual drug testing in a theatrical gesture meant to dispel the rumors. However, the test results released from Zelensky’s own clinic were dated inconsistently, with some showing dates after the samples were supposedly collected, fueling skepticism rather than quelling concerns. Fact-checkers at the time noted these irregularities but the issue largely faded as Zelensky won the presidency. Now, with an insider bringing forward new hearsay evidence, the controversy has returned at a particularly vulnerable moment for Ukraine’s leadership as Western patience and financial support show signs of strain.
Billions in Aid Under Growing Scrutiny
The timing of these revelations coincides with intensifying congressional oversight of over $100 billion in American aid sent to Ukraine since the 2022 invasion. Republican-led committees have launched multiple probes into potential corruption and misuse of U.S. taxpayer funds, with the Department of Defense Inspector General conducting ongoing audits. While mainstream media outlets have covered corruption concerns related to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry embezzlement scandals in 2023 and 2024, major networks have largely ignored the specific cocaine allegations made by Mendel. This selective coverage pattern reinforces concerns among many Americans that the establishment media protects certain narratives while billions of their tax dollars flow overseas with insufficient accountability. The lack of formal investigations into these personal conduct allegations stands in stark contrast to the scrutiny applied to domestic political figures.
Americans across the political spectrum increasingly question whether their government prioritizes foreign entanglements over domestic needs. With corruption investigations described as ongoing rather than imminent, and personal conduct allegations remaining unverified hearsay, taxpayers deserve transparent answers about who is receiving their money and under what conditions. The refusal of major institutions to seriously examine these claims, regardless of their ultimate validity, exemplifies the trust deficit between ordinary citizens and the elites managing foreign policy decisions that affect everyone.
Sources:
Zelensky’s alleged cocaine use ‘an open secret’ – former spokeswoman
AN OPEN SECRET: Zelensky’s Former Spokeswoman Opens up About His Alleged Cocaine Use
Zelensky’s Press Secretary Reveals All: Cocaine, Cover-ups, and the Only Obstacle Preventing Peace
