Claims of Occult Practices in Ukrainian Politics by Yuliia Mendel
Yuliia Mendel, who served as press secretary for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from 2019 to 2021, has made public allegations that Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidential Office, engaged in occult practices. These claims, which have circulated on Facebook, represent an extraordinary and sensational accusation within the country's political sphere.
Mendel stated that she first heard rumors about Yermak's involvement with magic in 2019. The following year, in 2020, a government minister approached her with information that Yermak, by then already the head of the office, was practicing sorcery. According to Mendel, the minister appeared deeply frightened, though he did not provide specific details. In 2023, a source from a key security service informed her that Yermak had brought magicians from Israel, Georgia, and a Latin American country to perform rituals.
Specifics of the Alleged Rituals
Further details about the rituals were reportedly provided by a source from the esoteric community in 2024. This person claimed the magicians hired by Yermak burned herbs, collected water from corpses, and crafted dolls, which he then stored in a specific chest. Mendel expressed concern, stating that this chest was supposedly 'already full of the dead.' She also noted that Yermak is not the only figure in Ukrainian politics alleged to practice magical rites.
Mendel's allegations have sparked significant public controversy and could have serious repercussions for the image of the head of the Presidential Office. As these are the first public accusations of this nature in recent Ukrainian politics, the situation warrants close observation for its potential impact on political stability. The Presidential Office has not yet issued an official comment on these specific claims, which may indicate the sensitivity of the matter.