diff --git a/src/tgbot/app.py b/src/tgbot/app.py
index 8d37ff2..dd8ce26 100644
--- a/src/tgbot/app.py
+++ b/src/tgbot/app.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
     handle_broadcast_text_ru_trigger,
 )
 from src.tgbot.handlers.admin.forward_channel import handle_forwarded_from_tgchannelru
+from src.tgbot.handlers.admin.promote_moderator import handle_promote_moderator
 from src.tgbot.handlers.admin.user_info import (
     DELETE_USER_DATA_CONFIRMATION_CALLBACK,
     delete_user_data,
@@ -252,6 +253,14 @@ def add_handlers(application: Application) -> None:
         )
     )
 
+    application.add_handler(
+        CommandHandler(
+            "promotemod",
+            handle_promote_moderator,
+            filters=filters.ChatType.PRIVATE & filters.UpdateType.MESSAGE,
+        )
+    )
+
     ######################
     # broadcast texts
     application.add_handlers(
diff --git a/src/tgbot/handlers/admin/promote_moderator.py b/src/tgbot/handlers/admin/promote_moderator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc5d14c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tgbot/handlers/admin/promote_moderator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+from collections.abc import Mapping
+
+import logging
+
+from telegram import Update
+from telegram.error import TelegramError
+from telegram.ext import ContextTypes
+
+from src.tgbot.constants import TELEGRAM_MODERATOR_CHAT_ID, UserType
+from src.tgbot.handlers.admin.service import get_user_by_tg_username
+from src.tgbot.service import (
+    add_user_tg_chat_membership,
+    get_user_by_id,
+    update_user,
+)
+from src.tgbot.user_info import update_user_info_cache
+
+
+async def _is_admin(user_info: Mapping[str, object] | None) -> bool:
+    if not user_info:
+        return False
+
+    raw_type = user_info.get("type")
+    try:
+        return UserType(str(raw_type)) == UserType.ADMIN
+    except ValueError:
+        logging.warning("Unknown user type '%s' encountered during admin check", raw_type)
+        return False
+
+
+async def handle_promote_moderator(
+    update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE
+) -> None:
+    message = update.effective_message
+    if message is None or message.text is None:
+        return
+
+    requester = await get_user_by_id(message.from_user.id)
+    if not await _is_admin(requester):
+        await message.reply_text("🚫 Only admins can promote moderators.")
+        return
+
+    parts = message.text.strip().split(maxsplit=1)
+    if len(parts) < 2:
+        await message.reply_text("Usage: /promotemod <telegram_id|@username>")
+        return
+
+    identifier = parts[1].strip()
+    target = None
+
+    if identifier.startswith("@"):  # username lookup
+        username = identifier[1:]
+        if not username:
+            await message.reply_text("🚫 Please provide a valid username after @.")
+            return
+        target = await get_user_by_tg_username(username)
+    else:
+        try:
+            telegram_id = int(identifier)
+        except ValueError:
+            await message.reply_text(
+                "🚫 Identifier must be a Telegram ID or @username."
+            )
+            return
+        target = await get_user_by_id(telegram_id)
+
+    if target is None:
+        await message.reply_text("🚫 Could not find the specified user.")
+        return
+
+    target_id = int(target["id"])
+
+    try:
+        invite_link = await context.bot.create_chat_invite_link(
+            chat_id=TELEGRAM_MODERATOR_CHAT_ID,
+            creates_join_request=False,
+            member_limit=1,
+        )
+    except TelegramError:
+        logging.exception("Failed to generate moderator invite link for user_id=%s", target_id)
+        await message.reply_text("❌ Failed to generate invite link. Try again later.")
+        return
+
+    await update_user(target_id, type=UserType.MODERATOR.value)
+    await add_user_tg_chat_membership(target_id, TELEGRAM_MODERATOR_CHAT_ID)
+    await update_user_info_cache(target_id)
+
+    try:
+        await context.bot.send_message(
+            chat_id=target_id,
+            text=(
+                "🎉 You have been promoted to moderator! "
+                f"Here is your invite link: {invite_link.invite_link}"
+            ),
+            disable_web_page_preview=True,
+        )
+    except TelegramError:
+        logging.exception("Failed to send moderator invite to user_id=%s", target_id)
+        await message.reply_text(
+            "⚠️ Promotion updated, but sending the invite link failed."
+        )
+        return
+
+    await message.reply_text("✅ User promoted to moderator and invite link sent.")