U.S. sanctions against Kolomoisky ‘only the beginning’

Ukraine’s presidential spokesperson Iuliia Mendel claimed
in an interview that the Ukrainian government’s focus on Ihor Kolomoisky is
only in its first stages. Ukrinform reports that media site Gordon
editor-in-chief Olesya Batsman questioned Mendel about a recent Atlantic
Council article Mendel penned. In the article, Mendel stated that Zelensky is
prepared to take on the oligarchs “everywhere from the energy and banking
sectors to politics and the media.”

When specifically asked about Kolomoisky and the U.S.
sanctions placed on him last week, Mendel stated that “this is the beginning”.
When prompted for further information, she immediately brought up the issue of
Privatbank and the accusation of the embezzlement of UAH 137 million
that his managers are facing.

James Hydzik: The
Kolomoisky sanctions and further fight against the oligarchs will, on the one
hand partially define domestic Ukrainian politics, but on the other provide, a
small opportunity to distract people from the impending Bellingcat expose on
the Vagner fiasco. Time will show whether the administration will be able to
shift the focus enough on internal affairs to survive the external shock
undamaged.