Zelensky appoints head of Odesa city military administration

Serhiy Lysak, the current head of the Dnipro Regional Military Administration, will become the head of the newly created Odesa City Military Administration, a decree already signed by President Zelensky. After Hennadiy Trukhanov loses his citizenship, his powers will formally cease, but this must be confirmed by the Odesa City Council.

This was reported on TSN's "United News" program.

The day before, Zelensky announced the creation of the Odesa City Military Administration in his evening address, after which Lysak immediately became the main contender for the post.

Serhiy Lysak has been participating in hostilities since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, and in March 2022, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general by presidential decree. Lysak has been the head of the Dnipropetrovs'k Regional Military Administration since February 2023, and will be replaced by his first deputy, Vladyslav Haivanenko.

A city military administration (MMA) is a temporary body that operates only during martial law. It is responsible for defense, public security, and performs local government functions while the city council temporarily loses its powers. The city council remains a permanent body representing the interests of residents.

The day before, on October 14, Zelensky deprived Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov, former MP Oleh Tsarev, and ballet dancer Serhiy Polunin of their citizenship. According to Pavlo Romaniuk, an advisor to the Opora party, after losing his citizenship, Trukhanov will formally lose his powers as mayor, but this must be confirmed by the Odesa City Council. According to the law "On Local Self-Government," the mayor's powers can be terminated only after a corresponding decision of the city council.

At the same time, the mayor of Odesa denies having Russian citizenship and considers the deprivation of his Ukrainian passport a political decision. He emphasized that he continues to fulfill his duties and intends to appeal to international bodies to confirm his status.

Discussions about the possible introduction of a military administration in Odesa or other ways to remove Trukhanov have been going on for a long time. Recently, a petition on the president's website gathered more than 25,000 signatures in just a few days.

Анна Бальчінос