Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appointed Serhiy Lysak, the former governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, as the new head of Odesa’s city administration following the dismissal of Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov.
The move comes after Zelenskiy revoked Trukhanov’s Ukrainian citizenship amid allegations that he possessed a Russian passport — a charge that automatically triggered his removal from office under Ukrainian law.
Lysak will lead a newly created city military administration, a wartime structure that places key cities under direct presidential control. While such arrangements have become common since Russia’s 2022 invasion, critics argue they undermine local democracy.
Trukhanov, who had served as mayor since 2014, has denied holding Russian citizenship and vowed to challenge the decision in court. He has also been a vocal critic of Ukraine’s “de-Russification” drive, which began after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and has intensified during the ongoing conflict.
Elections in Ukraine remain suspended under martial law, meaning Lysak’s appointment effectively hands control of the strategic Black Sea port city directly to Kyiv at a critical moment in the war.
Melissa Enoch
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