October 14, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the administration of Odesa. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formalized a decree stripping the city's mayor, Gennadiy Trukhanov, of his Ukrainian citizenship. This drastic measure was predicated on evidence supplied by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which asserted that Trukhanov maintained dual citizenship, specifically holding a passport from the Russian Federation.
The SBU presented compelling documentation to support its claim, notably a copy of a Russian foreign passport. This document was reportedly issued on December 15, 2015, with a validity period of 10 years, and the intelligence agency confirmed it remains current. While an internal Russian passport belonging to Trukhanov was invalidated following a 2017 court decision in the Moscow region, the SBU emphasized that this judicial action did not negate the Russian citizenship acquired legally, thus upholding the basis for the President's decree.
Gennadiy Trukhanov, who has held the mayoral office since 2014, vehemently rejected the allegations leveled against him. He declared his intention to mount a robust legal challenge against the presidential decree, first through the Supreme Court of Ukraine, and if necessary, escalating the matter to the European Court of Human Rights. The former mayor stressed that he plans to continue executing his duties until the Odesa city council makes a definitive ruling on his status, signaling a protracted political and legal standoff.
This high-profile personnel change generated significant public controversy and resonance. A petition demanding the annulment of the mayor's citizenship rapidly accumulated support, surpassing 25,000 signatures on the official Presidential portal in less than twenty-four hours. Furthermore, the decree extended beyond Trukhanov; it also targeted other prominent figures associated with pro-Russian sentiments, including former deputy Oleg Tsarev and ballet artist Sergey Polunin, underscoring a broader governmental effort to address perceived security risks.
Perhaps the most critical outcome of these events was President Zelenskyy’s subsequent announcement regarding the imposition of a military administration in Odesa. The head of state justified this move by citing “unresolved security issues,” explaining that the measure was designed to provide the city with “greater protection and greater support.” He noted that Odesa had accumulated numerous security challenges that had long gone unaddressed.
Experts view the establishment of military governance as a strategic maneuver intended to bolster the defensive capabilities of this vital port hub. The question of who will lead this new structure is expected to be resolved shortly, marking a significant shift in local power dynamics. For the residents of Odesa, this episode signals a fundamental change in the governing paradigm during a critical juncture, as public attention shifts to the integration of the new administrative authority amidst an elevated external threat level.