Zelensky Strips Odesa Mayor of Ukrainian Citizenship
Last update: October 14, 2025
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Zelensky has revoked Odesa mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov’s citizenship over alleged Russian passport possession, a claim the mayor denies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stripped Odesa mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov of his citizenship over allegations that he holds a Russian passport, the SBU security service said Tuesday.
"The Ukrainian citizenship of the mayor of Odesa, Gennadiy Trukhanov, has been suspended," the SBU announced on Telegram, citing a decree signed by Zelensky. Officials accused him of possessing “a valid international passport from the aggressor country.”
Trukhanov, who has served as mayor of Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port city since 2014, denied the claim in a video posted to Telegram.
“I have never received a Russian passport. I am a Ukrainian citizen,” Trukhanov said. “I will continue to perform the duties of elected mayor as long as possible, and I will challenge this decision in court.”
CBI News reports that the decision, if enforced, would effectively remove Trukhanov from office. Once seen as leaning toward Moscow, the former parliamentarian shifted positions after Russia’s 2022 invasion, condemning the Kremlin and rallying support for Ukraine’s defense of Odesa.
