Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has placed the Black Sea metropolis of Odesa under military administration amid a conflict with the city’s mayor.
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In a decree issued on Wednesday, Zelensky established the new military administration and appointed intelligence general Serhii Lysak as its head.
Lysak was simultaneously relieved of his position as military governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, a role he had held for more than two and a half years, to take on this new responsibility.
On Tuesday, Zelensky revoked the citizenship of Gennadiy Trukhanov, who has been Odessa’s mayor for more than 10 years, saying the mayor had a Russian passport.
Trukhanov denies the accusation, intends to file a lawsuit, and is holding on to his position as mayor.
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However, with the loss of his citizenship, the city leader is also effectively removed from office and could even face deportation.
“Far too many security issues in Odesa remained unanswered for far too long,” Zelensky said on Tuesday, without providing specific details. He added that the city needed stronger protection and more support.