Zelenskyy appoints new head of Odesa after mayor dismissed over citizenship controversy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday appointed Serhiy Lysak, a former regional governor, to lead the strategic Black Sea port city of Odesa, following the dismissal of Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov over alleged ties to Russia, according to a Reuters report.

Trukhanov was automatically removed from office after his Ukrainian citizenship was revoked amid claims he held a Russian passport — an allegation he denies. The move came amid ongoing efforts by Ukrainian authorities to tighten control over local governance during wartime.

Lysak, who previously served as governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, will now head Odesa’s newly established city military administration, reported Reuters.

Such wartime bodies grant expanded powers to the president and military authorities, bypassing elected officials — a practice some critics say undermines democratic governance.

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Trukhanov, first elected mayor in 2014, has vowed to challenge the decision in court.

His removal comes as Ukraine intensifies its “de-Russification” campaign, a cultural and political shift away from Russian influence that began after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and has accelerated following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Elections remain suspended under Ukraine’s martial law, currently in effect due to the ongoing conflict.

With inputs from agencies