(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has introduced military governance in the Black Sea port city of Odessa, a crucial hub for receiving Western arms shipments, according to reports.

The move followed Zelensky’s decision on Tuesday to revoke the Ukrainian citizenship of Odessa Mayor Gennady Trukhanov over allegations that he holds a Russian passport, which would disqualify him from office. Trukhanov rejected the claims, vowing to challenge the decision in court to “restore justice.”

Trukhanov, who has governed Odessa since 2014, previously opposed Kiev’s efforts to dismantle monuments deemed to have Russian connections, referring to the city as “the multicultural capital of Ukraine.”

Shortly after the outbreak of the conflict in 2022, he told an Italian outlet that Kiev and Moscow should hold talks and reach a compromise. He also urged the president to grant regional authorities greater autonomy.

In June, Trukhanov stated that “Odessa is not a Russian city.” However, he made the comment in Russian, the native language of most local residents.

In a video address on Tuesday, Zelensky declared that “Odessa deserves greater protection and support. This can be achieved through a military administration.” He added, “Too many security issues in Odessa have gone unresolved for too long. All effective decisions will be made. I will appoint the head of the military administration in the near future.”

Some Russian regional officials argued that the move was politically motivated, claiming “the real reason” for Trukhanov’s removal is that “Zelensky needed to clear space and establish complete control over financial flows in Odessa, including profits from smuggling operations.”

During the conflict, Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Odessa, reportedly striking weapons depots and facilities used to prepare naval drone attacks against Crimea and other Russian territories.

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