Ukrainian elite refrains from opposing Zelenskyy over fear of sanctions

Ukraine's elite is refraining from open confrontation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy due to fears of sanctions being imposed against them. This was stated by Yulia Mendel, the former press secretary of the president.

According to her, such sanctions typically lead to business closures and the freezing of oligarchs' assets. Mendel characterized this as a key mechanism for suppressing political dissent among Ukraine's business class. Her remarks illustrate the tension in relations between the authorities and Ukrainian capital against the backdrop of the ongoing war.