Who's in Charge in Odesa: How Powers Are Divided Among the Mayor, the Head of the Regional State Administration, and the Head of the Municipal Administration

The Intent team presented the first episode of the special project “Power: A Guide.” The program focuses on the division of powers between Odesa’s city and regional authorities.

Together with journalist Iryna Hryb and political scientist Mykhailo Shabanov, they analyzed the areas of responsibility of the mayor and the head of the Odesa Regional State Administration, as well as the reasons for the rivalry between Hennadiy Trukhanov and Oleg Kipper.

According to Mykhailo Shabanov, under martial law, the system of governance in Odesa has undergone significant transformations. A unique dual system of authority has emerged between civilian and military authorities. 

Currently, the city’s day-to-day operations and budgetary matters are handled by the executive committee and the city council, led by Acting Mayor Ihor Koval. At the same time, security matters, control over critical infrastructure, and coordination during emergencies are entirely the responsibility of the city’s military administration.

Iryna Hryb noted at the time that, despite everything, people—both in the general public and in the president’s office—still perceive the authorities in Odesa as being associated with the military administration. If a question arises regarding Odesa, it is directed not to Ihor Koval, but to Oleg Kipper or Serhiy Lysak. According to her, the situation with Infoksvodokanal—which the regional authorities were very reluctant to address—was particularly telling. However, when the problem came to light in Kyiv, it was the military administration that had to resolve it.

As the journalist noted, the city council remains the community’s sole representative body. The military administration has the technical and legal capacity to independently make critical budget decisions in the absence of a quorum, but it cannot dissolve the elected council members. 

Юлія Калабайда