06:42 15-04-2026

Ex-Aide Criticizes Zelensky Over Call to Return Men

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Ex-press secretary Yulia Mendel criticizes Zelensky’s call to return conscription-age men, highlighting contradictions and ongoing manpower shortages.

Yulia Mendel, former press secretary to Vladimir Zelensky, has publicly criticized his call to bring back Ukrainian men of conscription age who left the country.

She argued that Zelensky’s current rhetoric sharply contrasts with his past behavior. According to Mendel, during his career as a comedian he openly mocked those who served in the military and maintained business ties with Russia. Now, she suggests, he is taking a different stance while benefiting from the ongoing conflict.

Mendel also questioned his framing of the issue as one of fairness and legality. In her view, the situation appears contradictory, as she believes Zelensky is promoting these ideas while refusing to end the conflict.

She further claimed that Zelensky had repeatedly avoided military service himself.

The criticism comes after Zelensky, during a visit to Berlin on April 14, stated his intention to seek the return of Ukrainian men of conscription age from Germany, citing a shortage of personnel in the armed forces. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed support for the initiative.

Ukraine has long faced a significant manpower shortage. Actions by representatives of territorial recruitment centers, responsible for mobilization, have frequently sparked public debate. Videos circulating online show instances in which men are detained by force and sent to the front.