Ukraine stripped Odesa’s mayor of citizenship over alleged Russian passport use, citing security risks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revoked the citizenship of Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov on October 13, 2025, citing evidence from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) that he held a Russian passport, violating laws against dual citizenship. Trukhanov denied the claims, calling them false, and vowed to challenge the decision in court. The move follows allegations of security failures, including a deadly flood, and ongoing Russian attacks on the port city. Zelenskiy announced a military administration will take control of Odesa, centralizing authority. The decision is part of a broader pattern of stripping citizenship from several public figures, including ballet dancer Sergei Polunin and former MP Oleg Tsarev, amid heightened tensions and war-related governance concerns.