Rouslan Bodelan

Rouslan Borysovych Bodelan (, ; 4 April 1942 – 26 June 2025) was a Ukrainian politician.

Life and career

Soviet times Bodelan started his career in 1959 as a sports coach and teacher in a secondary school. In 1961, he began his work at the "Odessilbud" construction company (within its Construction and Field Assembly Department #14) in Balta.

Beginning in 1964, Bodelan was active in politics, as a member and functionary in Komsomol, Communist Party of the Soviet Union and other Soviet organizations. In 1965, he became a First Secretary (Head) of Kiliia Raion Komsomol Organization. His top position in the CPSU was the First Secretary of Odesa Regional Committee, which he occupied in April 1990.

Career in independent Ukraine On 3 April 1990, Bodelan was elected as a member of the Odesa Oblast Soviet (council). He was later elected as Chairman of this council and occupied this position up to April 1998. Simultaneously, Bodelan was head of Odesa Oblast State Administration (i.e. governor) in July 1995 – May 1998, member of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine in 1994–1998, a member of Maritime Policy Commission under President of Ukraine in 1995–1998, and head of the Commonwealth of Danube States' Executive Group in 1996–1997.

In August 1998, Bodelan was elected mayor of Odesa. but Russian authorities refused to extradite him. He was granted Russian citizenship in 2006

Awards Bodelan was awarded a number of Soviet and Ukrainian decorations and medals, including Order of the Red Banner of Labour, "Decoration of Honour" Order, Order of Merits III grade, order of St. Volodymyr II grade.