Zelensky Places Odessa Under Military Administration and Strip Its Mayor of Citizenship

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree to establish a new military administration in the coastal city of Odessa on the Black Sea, in a move that reflects the escalating dispute with its mayor, Gennady Trukhanov.

Under the decision, General Serhiy Lysak, one of the intelligence leaders, was appointed to head the military administration, after being relieved of his position as military governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, which he managed for more than two and a half years.

The move came just one day after Zelensky's decision to strip Trukhanov of Ukrainian citizenship, claiming he held a Russian passport, which the latter denied, affirming his intention to file a lawsuit against the decision, and emphasizing his commitment to his position.

Zelensky justified his decision by stating that "many security issues in Odessa have remained unaddressed for a long time," stressing that the city needs "stronger protection and greater support."

However, Trukhanov's loss of citizenship practically means stripping him of his position as mayor, with the possibility of facing deportation. It is worth noting that Trukhanov, who has been mayor since 2014, has repeatedly condemned the Russian attacks on the strategically important city, which is home to more than a million residents.