His top position in CPSU was the First Secretary of Odesa Regional Committee, which he occupied in April 1990.

Simultaneously, Bodelan was a 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, head of the Commonwealth of Danube States' Executive Group in 1996–1997.

While mayor Bodelan allegedly took active part in a wide-range electoral fraud in favor of pro-government candidates during the 2004 presidential election.

[1] Bodelan is currently wanted under an Interpol search warrant,[1] but Russian authorities refuse to extradite him.

Bodelan refused to return to Ukraine voluntarily, claiming he is afraid of political prosecution by supporters of former president Viktor Yushchenko.