Zelensky has stripped Odesa mayor Trukhanov of his citizenship

Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had signed a decree revoking the Ukrainian citizenship of certain individuals.

Judging by the context of the message — with its mention of the country’s southern region and the presence of Russian citizenship among certain persons — he is referring to the mayor of Odesa, Hennadiy Trukhanov.

A post about this appeared on the president’s Telegram channel.

“I held a meeting on the security situation in some of our regions — these are fundamental issues. The head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, reported on countering Russian agent networks and collaborators in the frontline regions and in the south of our state. The presence of Russian citizenship among certain individuals was also confirmed — appropriate decisions regarding them have been prepared. The decree has been signed,” the publication says.

At the same time, during the national telethon broadcast, it was stated that Zelensky had revoked the citizenship of Odesa mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov, former MP Oleh Tsaryov, and ballet dancer Serhiy Polunin from Kherson.

Meanwhile, a protest rally against Trukhanov is being organized in Odesa for this evening.

Now there are two possible developments in Odesa:

1. The acting mayor will become city council secretary Ihor Koval, a representative of the Servant of the Peopleparty.
2. A city military administration will be created, with one of the candidates for its head being Oleksiy Khimchenko, deputy head of the regional military administration (OVA).

Earlier, media reported that Zelensky urged the head of the Odesa Regional State Administration, Oleh Kiper, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, to assess the need to create a military administration in Odesa, which would govern the city instead of Mayor Trukhanov.