Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Serhiy Lysak, the former governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, as the new head of Odesa’s city administration, following the removal of long-serving mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov.
The decision comes shortly after Zelensky revoked Trukhanov’s Ukrainian citizenship amid allegations that the ex-mayor held a Russian passport — a violation that automatically disqualifies individuals from public office under Ukrainian law.
Lysak will now lead a newly established city military administration, a wartime governance structure that places key urban centers under direct presidential control. Such bodies have become increasingly common since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though critics argue the system erodes local self-governance.
Trukhanov, who had served as Odesa’s mayor since 2014, has denied possessing Russian citizenship and announced plans to challenge the decision in court.
A vocal critic of Kyiv’s “de-Russification” campaign, Trukhanov had often clashed with national authorities over policies targeting Russian cultural and political influence — an issue that has sharply intensified since the outbreak of the war.
Zelensky’s move effectively brings Odesa — a strategically vital Black Sea port city — under Kyiv’s direct authority at a crucial stage of the conflict, as Ukraine continues to defend its southern coastline and maritime infrastructure from Russian attacks.
With elections suspended under martial law, Lysak’s appointment consolidates central control over one of Ukraine’s most important economic and military hubs.
Government officials described the reshuffle as a necessary wartime measure to ensure “stability and effective coordination” in a city frequently targeted by Russian missile and drone strikes.
However, opposition figures and civil society groups have expressed concern that such moves risk weakening democratic accountability at the local level.
Zelensky’s office has not commented on whether further administrative changes are planned, but the president has recently vowed to tighten anti-corruption and security oversight across key regions as Ukraine braces for a difficult winter campaign.
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