Longtime Odesa council member and businessman dies
Dmytro Tantsyura, a well-known figure in Odesa municipal politics and the private sector, has died in Odesa, local party sources and news outlets reported on Aug. 25, 2026. Tantsyura served several terms on the Odesa City Council, ran businesses in the region and in 2023 provided a high-profile financial guarantee for the city’s mayor while he was in custody.
According to reports, Tantsyura was born on Dec. 8, 1978, and held degrees in law and public administration. He graduated from the Odesa State Law Academy in 2001 with a degree in jurisprudence and earned a master’s degree in public administration in 2002. In 2008 he founded the law firm Southern Legal Company, and since 2010 he was CEO of D.I.M. — Group LLC.
Political records show Tantsyura was elected to the Odesa City Council across multiple convocations. He served on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th councils, and in 2015 was elected to the 7th convocation representing the Trust the Deeds party. Earlier in his career, he was affiliated with other local factions, including Strong Ukraine, Reforms and Order, and the Our Odesa bloc associated with Eduard Gurvits.
Known for financial resources and a major bail payment
Tantsyura drew attention in May 2023 when he posted a 13.42 million-hryvnia bail for Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov, who at that time was in custody. That transaction was widely reported and remains one of the most prominent public acts tied to Tantsyura in recent years.
Publicly available financial disclosure information cited by local outlets noted that in 2019 Tantsyura declared roughly 144.9 million hryvnias in liquid assets, of which approximately 140 million hryvnias were held in cash. At that filing, he was listed among city council members with substantial land holdings in the Odesa district, including plots in Prylymanske, Lymanka, Kryzhanivka and Fontanka.
“We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Dmytro Tantsyura,” local reports said.
Authorities and the party have not released an official cause of death. At this time, no further details about the circumstances surrounding his death were available in the reporting published Aug. 25, 2026.
Local repercussions and unanswered questions
Tantsyura’s passing removes a familiar presence from Odesa’s civic landscape: a repeating member of the city council, a private-sector executive and a prominent figure in financial disclosures and high-profile legal guarantees. His roles in multiple political blocs and his business activities intersected with municipal decision-making over many years.
- Civic leadership: Tantsyura’s multiple council terms made him a persistent participant in local governance.
- Financial footprint: Large declared liquid assets and land holdings tied him to economic debates in the region.
- High-profile support: The 13.42 million-hryvnia bail for the mayor was a notable public act with legal and political visibility.
With no official statement yet on the cause of death, local political colleagues, constituents and business partners in Odesa will likely await formal confirmation and any information about forthcoming memorial arrangements. Coverage in local media also may prompt renewed attention to the financial disclosures and municipal ties cited in past reporting.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthdate | Dec. 8, 1978 |
| Education | Odesa State Law Academy (2001), Master’s in Public Administration (2002) |
| Business roles | Founder, Southern Legal Company (2008); CEO, D.I.M. — Group LLC (since 2010) |
| Notable public act | Posted 13.42 million hryvnia bail for Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov (May 2023) |
| Financial disclosure (2019) | Declared 144.9 million hryvnias liquid assets (approx. 140 million cash) |
WE NEWS will monitor for official statements from the Trust the Deeds party, city council offices and Tantsyura’s family. Additional reporting will follow as more information becomes available about his passing and any implications for ongoing municipal matters in Odesa.
