Sievierodonetsk
Ukrainian: Сєвєродонецьк Russian: Северодонецк | |
---|---|
City | |
Coordinates: 48°56′53″N 38°29′36″E / 48.94806°N 38.49333°ECoordinates: 48°56′53″N 38°29′36″E / 48.94806°N 38.49333°E | |
Country |
|
Oblast (Ukraine) | Luhansk Oblast |
Raion (Ukraine) | Sievierodonetsk Raion |
Founded | 1934 |
City status | 1958 |
LPR control | 25 June 2022 |
Area | |
• Total | 50 km2 (20 sq mi) |
Population (2021) | |
• Total | 101,135 |
• Density | 2,000/km2 (5,200/sq mi) |
Area code(s) | +380 6452(645) |
Climate | Dfb |
Website | www.sed-rada.gov.ua[dead link] |
Sievierodonetsk,[a] Sieverodonetsk,[b] or Severodonetsk[c] is a city in the Luhansk Oblast of Ukraine, located to the northeast of the left bank of the Siverskyi Donets river and approximately 110 km (68 mi) to the northwest from the Oblast capital, Luhansk. It faces Lysychansk across the river. The city, whose name comes from the above-mentioned river, had a 2021 population of 101,135 (2021 est.)[1], making it then the second most populous city in the oblast. Sievierodonetsk is a city of regional significance. It is currently occupied by Russia and the Luhansk People's Republic.[2]
Sievierodonetsk has several factories and a significant chemical production centre "Azot" (English translation: Nitrogen), part of the Ostchem group. There is also a domestic airport six km (3.7 mi) to the south of the city.[3]
Since 2014, Sievierodonetsk has served as the administrative center of Luhansk Oblast, due to the city of Luhansk falling under the control of the pro-Russian separatist Luhansk People's Republic during the War in Donbas.[4][5] As part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sievierodonetsk had come under heavy attack from Russian forces and was the forefront of the Battle of Donbas,[6] resulting in extensive destruction to the city, including residential areas.[7] By 25 June 2022, the city was completely captured by Russian and Luhansk People's Republic forces,[8] with the civilian population estimated to be approximately 10,000, ten percent of its pre-war level.[9]
History
Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union 1934–1941
Army Group Rear Area Command 1941–1944
∟ part of German-occupied Europe
Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union 1944–1991
Ukraine 1991–2022
Luhansk People's Republic 2022–present
The town appears on older maps as Donets (also Donetz, Donez) after the river Siverskyi Donets.
Establishment
The foundation of modern Sievierodonetsk is closely connected with the beginning of construction of the Lysychansk Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant within the limits of the city of Lysychansk in 1934. Donets itself was already combined with Lysychansk. The first settlement of workers on the construction site was Lyskhimstroi (Russian Liskhimstroi), near Donets. In September 1935, the first school was opened in the settlement, a silicate brick plant started production, and the first three residential two-story houses were built. In 1940, there were 47 houses, a school, a club, a kindergarten, a nursery, and 10 buildings of a chemical combine in Lyskhimstroi.
During the Second World War, Lyskhimstroi was occupied by German troops on 11 July 1942. It was liberated by the Red Army on 1 February 1943. Work to restore and expand the Lysychansk Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant began on 10 December 1943. By 1946, the pre-war housing stock was completely restored, which amounted to 17,000 square meters.
In 1950, four new names were proposed for Lyskhimstroi: Svetlograd, Komsomolsk-on-Donets, Mendeleevsk and Severodonetsk; it was renamed Sievierodonetsk, after the Siverskyi Donets River, and received the status of an urban settlement. On 1 January 1951, the chemical plant produced its first output of ammonium nitrate.[10]
As of 1994, a local newspaper had been published in the city since April 1965.[11]
Russo-Ukrainian War
War in Donbas
During the war in Donbas, the town was captured late May 2014 by combined Russian forces, who totaled up to 1,000.[12] Some locals supported the Russian-backed forces but most say they suffered extortion, violence and intolerance under a "reign of terror."[13] No Ukrainian presidential election in 2014 was held in the city as the militants did not allow the voting places to open and much of Election Commission's property was either stolen or destroyed. On 22 July 2014, Ukrainian forces regained control of the city.[13][14] Heavy fighting continued around the city for a number of days; on 23 July 2014 the National Guard of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Army released a statement that said they were "continuing the cleansing of Sievierodonetsk".[15][16]
A bridge across Siverskyi Donets river was severely damaged during the war in 2014; it was re-opened in December 2016. The European Union contributed 93.8% of the funding for the restoration.[17]
In 2016, there was a proposal in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, to rename the city Siverskodonetsk (Ukrainian: Сіверськодонецьк), changing the Russian exonym to a native Ukrainian version with the same meaning.[18]
Russian invasion
During the larger Battle of Donbas of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sievierodonetsk became the center of intense fighting and media attention. In May, Russian forces made Sievierdonetsk its major focus in an attempt to capture Luhansk Oblast. On 31 May, the city's mayor stated that Russian forces had seized control of half of the city.[19] By 14 June, Russian forces had control of 80% of the city and had cut off all escape routes.[20][21] On 24 June, the Ukrainian government ordered its forces to withdraw from Sievierodonetsk.[22]
On 26 June, Russian Defense Minister Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov stated that Luhansk People's Republic Militia and the Russian Armed Forces had "completely liberated the cities of Severodonetsk and Borovskoye as well as populated localities Voronovo and Sirotino in the Lugansk People’s Republic".[2]
Demographics
|
|
Ethnicity of the city's residents as of the 2001 census:[23]
- Ukrainians: 59%
- Russians: 38.7%
- Belarusians: 0.6%
- Other: 1.7%
Economy
Chemical industries formerly[9] active in Sievierdonetsk include:
- "Azot" – one of the largest chemical plants in Europe.
- Khimpostavschik, a private enterprise[citation needed]
- Himexele[citation needed]
Sports
The first Ukrainian championship in bandy was held in the city in February 2012. Azot Severodonetsk became champions.[24]
Notable people
Notable current and former residents of Sievierodonetsk include:
- Irina Antanasijević (born 1965), Russo-Serbian philologist, literary critic and translator
- Nikolay Davydenko (born 1981), former professional tennis player
- Pavel Gubarev (born 1983), former head of the Donetsk People's Republic
- Serhiy Haidai (born 1975), entrepreneur and current Governor of Luhansk Oblast
- Yuriy Hritsyna (born 1971), professional football coach and former player
- Snejana Onopka (born 1986), Ukrainian model
Notes
References
- ^ Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2021 / Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2021 (PDF) (in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine.
- ^ a b "Russian, LPR forces liberate Severodonetsk - Russian top brass - Military & Defense - TASS". tass.com. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
- ^ Sievierodonetsk Airport (UKCS | SEV) at Great Circle Mapper
- ^ "Kikhtenko to move Donetsk administration to Kramatorsk and to leave power structures in Mariupol". Dzerkalo Tyzhnia media.
- ^ "In Severodonetsk, Petro Poroshenko presented Luhansk RSA Head Hennadiy Moskal". President of Ukraine, official website. Archived from the original on 2015-03-18.
- ^ Ponomarenko, Illia (7 May 2022). "Russia's offensive in Donbas bogs down". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Satellite images show scale of destruction in Ukrainian industrial city of Sievierodonetsk", ABC Net, 8 June 2022
- ^ "Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk now 'completely under Russian occupation' after months of fighting". CNN.
- ^ a b Ponomarenko, Illia (30 June 2022). "As Ukraine withdraws from Sievierodonetsk, Battle of Donbas enters next phase". Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Severodonetsk city, Ukraine trek". ukrainetrek.com.
- ^ № 2910. Коммунистический путь // Летопись периодических и продолжающихся изданий СССР 1986 - 1990. Часть 2. Газеты. М., «Книжная палата», 1994. стр.382
- ^ "Severodonetsk residents recall occupiers' brutality - Jul. 25, 2014". 24 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Severodonetsk residents recall occupiers' brutality - Jul. 25, 2014". 24 July 2014.
- ^ Reuters
- ^ "Ukrainian National Guard cleansing Severodonetsk, Lysychansk of militants".
- ^ "Сєвєродонецьк звільнено від терористів".
- ^ "War-damaged bridge in Severodonetsk reopened after major restructuring". eeas.europa.eu. 6 December 2016.
- ^ "У Раді пропонують перейменувати Сєвєродонецьк на Сіверськодонецьк". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ "Sievierodonetsk mayor says Russian forces seize half of city". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
- ^ Karmanau, Yuras (June 14, 2022). "Russians control 80% of key Ukraine city, cut escape routes". Associated Press. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Zinets, Natalia; Boumzar, Adelaziz (June 13, 2022). "Amid fierce fighting, Russian forces cut last Sievierodonetsk escape route". Reuters. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Ukraine war: Kyiv orders forces to withdraw from Severodonetsk". BBC News. 24 June 2022.
- ^ Дністрянський М. С. Етнополітична географія України. Львів: Літопис, 2006. С.465.
- ^ "Ukrainian Bandy and Rink bandy Federation".
External links
- (in Ukrainian) Official website, archived from the original on 6 October 2019
- (in Russian) City portal