The cities of Ukraine Kiev is the capital

The cities of Ukraine

Kiev is the capital of Ukraine with population of about 3 million citizens. It is situated on the Dnieper River and boasts architectural monuments that are recognized world treasures. Kiev is the largest cultural, scientific and industrial center of Ukraine, the place of religious pilgrimage and a very attractive tourist destination. Its beautiful landscapes, parks and gardens charm and captivate. Hospitable Ukrainians will be delighted to introduce Slavic culture to their foreign guests.

Lvov is a very poetic city steeped in legends both ancient and relatively new! Narrow medieval streets paved with stones, architectural decoration done in different styles – all preserved in its original form. In spite of all the whims of history the city has not lost its Ukrainian spirit. So it is no wonder that the central part of the city is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. You can admire monuments of different eras created by the combination of numerous national cultural traditions in this open-air museum for hours.

Odessa - legendary city of romance, art, humor, poems, theaters and museums. Odessa is a very special city - city with its own very special culture. Odessa is situated at the Black Sea coast. It is a very important port and one of the most beautiful cities in Ukraine. Odessa itself is full of historical, architectural, cultural and scientific interest, proud of its past and its traditions.

Dnepropetrovsk is a dynamic and lively city. The city is surprising green along the wide and slowmoving Dnieper river and has remarkable embankments, long boulevards and spacious parks. It is also the major centre of hightechnology industries, education, machine-building, metallurgy and trade. The city is not only famous for its commercial industry, but also its green hills and deep history.

Kharkov is not only an industrial and business center of Ukraine, it is also a city with a long and glorious history. From 1918 to 1934 years Kharkov was the official capital of Ukraine. In 2004 the city celebrated its 350 anniversary and today it is one of the largest cultural and scientific centers of Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The city has about 60 scientific-research institutes, 13 national universities and numerous professional, technical and private higher education institutions, offering its students a wide range of disciplines.

Ternopil � � Ternopil land has got a glorious history. Our predecessors created an everlasting culture here at the time of the Kyiv Rus and Galytsko-Volyn Principality. They kept traditions and customs of Ukrainian national spirit when the land was under the power of Lithuania, Austria and Poland. The glory of our compatriots Dmytro Vyshnevetskyi-Bayda — the founder of Zaporizhska Sich, Severyn Nalyvaiko — the leader of the peasant’s uprising, Nestor Morozenko — the cossacks colonel, will never die in the memory of the nation.

Chernihiv � � � � � Chernihiv is situated on the high right bank of the Desna River. Its total area is 64 km 2, and its population is 301 100. The city is divided into two districts. Chernihiv is one of the most ancient cities of Ukraine. It was founded in the 7 th century. It was named by the prince Chorny. The first mention of Chernihiv in the chronicles occurred in 907. The city was incorporated into Kievan Rus in the 9 th century and became one of the most important and wealthiest cities of the realm. +++++-

Ivano-Frankivsk � � � � Ivano-Frankivsk is an important railway and highway junction, the second largest city in Galicia. It is situated in the western part of Ukraine in very picturesque surroundings near the confluence of the Bystrytsia-Nadvirnianska and Bystrytsia-Solotvynska, which are the tributaries of the Bystrytsia. The total area of the city is 3890 hectars. It was called Stanislav until 1962. Its population is 233 000. Ukrainians constitute the most part of the population. They care about the national culture and their language.

Vinnytsia � � � � Vinnytsia is a city on the Buh river and a region centre since 1932. The total area of the city is 6100 hectares. Its population is 391 700. It is divided into 4 districts. It was first mentioned in historical documents in 1363, as a Lithuanian fortress. The settlement gradually developed from a farming village into a manufacturing and trading centre. It became the region’s capital in 1932.

Zhytomyr � � � � Zhytomyr is situated in the north of Ukraine on the Teterev river. Its total area is 6100 hectares. The city is divided into two districts, and its population is 292 000. Zhytomyr was founded, according to the local legend, in the 9 th century. It is first mentioned in the chronicles under the year of 1240, when it was destroyed by the Mongols. It became a town in 1444. The chief architectural monuments are the Jesuit monastery, a Roman Catholic church (1744), the Assumption Church (1752), the Transfiguration Cathedral (1866— 1874), the city hall.

Zaporizhi � � � � Zaporizhia is a historic region of Ukraine. The centre of Ukrainian Cossacks, Zaporizka Sech, was situated there in the 16 th— 18 th centuries. It played a very important role in the struggle of Ukrainian people for their independence. Zaporizhia is considered to be a city since 1806. The city got its present name in 1921. Zaporizhia is situated on the Dnieper river. The most remarkable sight, the pride and adornment of the city is Khortytsia Island.

Lutsk � � � Lutsk, the main city of the Volyn Region, was founded about 1000 A. D. by Volodymyr of Kyiv. The old town is a place of wooden houses and green gardens. The central place in the old town is Lubart’s Castle. It was built by the Lithuanian prince in the 14 th century. The most interesting building here is the Jesuits’ complex on Cathedral Street. It looks like a big Easter egg from inside.

Uzhhorod � � � Uzhhorod (formerly Ungvar) is the southern gateway to the Ukrainian section of the Carpathian Mountains, and the main town of the Transcarpathian Region of Ukraine. It lies four kilometers away from the Slovak border and 25 kilometers away from the Hungarian border. Uzhhorod has existed since 903 A. D. Transcarpathia was in Hungary and then in Czechoslovakia. Only at the end of the World War II Transcarpathia with Uzhhorod as its centre became a part of Ukraine.

Cherkassy � � � The city is situated on the right bank of the Kremenchuk Reservoir, on the Dnieper. The total area of the city is 75 km 2. Its population is 297 200. The city consists of two regions. Cherkassy was first mentioned in documents in the 13 th century as a fortified city in the Kiev principality of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Later it became a county centre of Kyiv gubernia.

Chernivtsi � � � � Chernivtsi is situated in the Western Ukraine on both banks of the Prut River. Its total area is 153 km 2 and it is divided into 3 districts. Its population is 257 300. The city was founded in the second part of the 12 th century. The first mention of Chernivtsi in the chronicles occurred in 1207. In the middle of the 14 th century it be-longed to Moldavia and stood on its border with Poland. In 1744 it became a part of Austria, and since 1917 — a part of Romania. In 1940 the Southern Bukovyna joined the Ukrainian Republic.

Donetsk � � � � The Donetsk Region is the easternmost region of southern Ukraine. Its southern part is washed by the Sea of Azov. Its total area is 26 500 km 2. The population of the region is 5 000 900. It is divided into 18 regions and 48 cities. Donetsk is the region’s capital. The Donetsk Region consists of an undulating plain dissected by river valleys, ravines, and gullies.

Kamianets-Podilskyi � � � Kamianets-Podilskyi is one of the oldest cities of Podillia, Ukraine and Europe. The city stands out on the high banks of the Smotrych River and is fortified by high stone walls, old towers and bastions. Every historic period changed the topography and architecture of the Old Town. Here we can see Orthodox and Catholic temples. The Turks even built their own church during their 27 years reign of Kamianets-Podilskyi.

Kherson � � � Kherson is the region capital, a large sea and river port and railway junction. It is situated in the steppe of the Black Sea Lowland on both banks of the Dnieper River directly north of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Kherson was founded in 1778 as a fortress to protect the southern frontiers. The first mention of Kherson in the chronicles occurred in 1737. Among the city’s architectural monuments are the remnants of the fortress walls and gates, the Black Sea Hospital, the naval arsenal (18 th century), and the Cathedral of the Transfiguration (1781).

Khmelnytskyi � � � � Khmelnytskyi is situated in the Western Ukraine at the confluence of the Buh and its tributary the Ploska. According to the chronicles, Khmelnytskyi was founded in 1493 and was named Ploskyriv. Until 1954 it was called Proskuriv, and then it was renamed to honour hetman B. Khmelnytskyi. The total area of the city is 52 km 2. Its population is 241 000. Khmelnytskyi is the city of science and education. There a lot of higher educational institutions, planning organisations and 6 technical secondary schools. There are lots of monuments to the soldiers who died during the Second World War.

Kirovohrad � � � � A city and region capital Kirovohrad is situated in the southeastern Dnieper Upland on the Inhul River, at the confluence of the Suhokma and the Bianka rivers. Two big reservoirs were created there, and there a lot of parks there. The total area of the city is 105 km 2 and it consists of two districts. Kirovohrad is comparatively young. It was founded in 1754. It became a town in 1765. In 1775 the town was named Yelysavethrad and belonged to Kherson gubernia. In 1924 it was renamed Zinovivske, Kirov in 1934, and Kirovohrad in 1939.

Mykolaiv � � � � First of all Mykolaiv is known as a town of ship-builders. And it is not by accident. Mykolaiv was founded in 1789 as a shipyard. The town is situated near the Black Sea and is a large sea and river port now. That is why it is the centre of ship-building in Ukraine. Besides there also such industries as light, perfumery and food processing there. Mykolaiv is also a large transport junction.

Poltava � � � � Poltava — one of the most interesting towns of Ukraine — is situated on the picturesque bank of the river Vorskla. Due to its history Poltava rouses great interest. It was first mentioned in chronicles as Ltava in 1174. This old name changed only in 1430. The history of Poltava is full of different events. Since 1569 it was a part of Poland. And only in 1667 it became a part of Russia. The town is also well-known thanks to Poltava battle, when Peter the Great with his army defeated the Swedish army of Karl XII.

Sumy � � � � A city situated at the confluence of the Psel and the Sumka rivers is a region’s centre. Its area is 99 km 2. Its population is 275 400. The city is divided into two districts. The first mention of Sumy in the chronicles occurred in 1652. It became a town in 1780. At first it belonged to the Kharkiv Region, later the Sumy Region was founded, and Sumy became a region’s centre.