Luhansk

Luhansk (Lugansk) Ukrainian: Луганськ Russian: Луганск
Coat of arms
Map of Ukraine with Luhansk highlighted.
Luhansk (Lugansk) Location of Luhansk
Coordinates: 48°34′0″N 39°20′0″E
Country Oblast Raion	Ukraine Luhansk Oblast
Founded	1795
Government
• Mayor	Serhiy Ivanovych Kravchenko
Area
• Total	257 km2 (99 sq mi)
Elevation	105 m (344 ft)
Population (2004)
• Total	445,900
• Density	1,802/km2 (4,670/sq mi)
Postal code	91000
Area code(s)	+380 642
Sister cities	Cardiff Lublin Pernik Székesfehérvár Saint-Étienne Daqing
Website	http://gorod.lugansk.ua/

Luhansk (Ukrainian: Луганськ, pronounced [luˈɦɑɲsʲk]) (formerly Voroshilovgrad) also known as Lugansk (Russian: Луга́нск; pronounced [luˈɡansk]) is a city in southeastern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Luhansk Oblast (province). The city itself is also designated as its own separate municipality within the oblast. The current estimated population is around 445,900 (as of 2004).

History

St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Luhansk

Monument for Revolution Heroes in Lugansk.

The city traces its history to 1795, when the British industrialist Charles Gascoigne founded a metal factory there. It was the beginning of an industry that still thrives there today. Lugansk achieved the status of city in 1882. Located in the Donets Basin, Lugansk was developed into an important industrial center of Eastern Europe, particularly a home to the major locomotive-building company. On November 5, 1935, the city was renamed Voroshilovgrad (Russian and Ukrainian: Ворошиловград) in honour of Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov. On March 5, 1958, with the call of Khrushchev not to give names of living people to cities, the old name was reinstated. On January 5, 1970, after Voroshilov died, the name was changed again to Voroshilovgrad. Finally, on May 4, 1990, a decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR gave the city back its original name.

Sport

Luhansk is home to Zorya Luhansk which now plays in the Ukrainian Premier League annual football championship and play at the Avanhard Stadium. The other football team is Dynamo Luhansk.

Merheleva Ridge

Main article: Mergeleva Ridge

On September 7, 2006, Archaeologists in Ukraine claimed an ancient structure, which the press reported as a pyramid antedating those in Egypt by at least 300 years, was discovered near Luhansk. The stone foundations of the structure were said to resemble Aztec and Mayan pyramids in Mesoamerica. It was later concluded that the site in question was not a pyramid but still of great interest.

Raions of Luhansk

Famous people from Luhansk

• Mykola Shmatko (born 1943), sculptor, professor and painter.
• Serhiy Bubka (born 1963), Soviet and Ukrainian pole vaulter, World Record holder, and Olympic Champion
• Vasyliy Bubka (born 1960), Soviet and Ukrainian pole vaulter
• Volodymyr Dahl (1801–1872), greatest Russian lexicographer
• Fedir Emelianenko (born 1976), a mixed martial arts champion
• Andriy Serdinov (born 1982), Ukrainian swimmer
• Klyment Voroshylov (1881–1969), Soviet military commander
• Mikhail Matusovsky (1915–1990), Soviet poet, songwriter
• Oleksandr Zavarov (born 1961), Soviet and Ukrainian football player and coach
• Valeriy Brumel (1942–2003), Soviet olympic champion
• Serhiy Semak, Russian football player
• Viktor Onopko, Russian football player

See also

• Luhansk Airport
• Lugansk Airlines
• Lugansk State Medical University
• Luhanskteplovoz
• University of Luhansk
• East Ukraine Volodymyr Dahl National University

External links

• Media related to Luhansk at Wikimedia Commons
• Topographic map 1:100 000
• Historic images of Luhansk
• The sightseeings of Luhansk
• Marble sculpture of King of marble of Nicolai Shmatko.