Luhansk

Luhans'k Луганськ
Coat of arms
Map of Ukraine with Luhansk highlighted.
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	+380 642
Sister cities	Cardiff Lublin Pernik Székesfehérvár Saint-Etienne Daqing
Website	http://gorod.lugansk.ua/

Luhansk (formerly Voroshilovgrad) also known as Lugansk (Ukrainian: Луганськ, pronounced [luˈɦɑnʲsʲk], translit. Luhans’k (formerly Луганське); 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

File:LG SVCS.jpg

St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Luhansk

Monument for Revolution Heroes in Lugansk.

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Luhansk university

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. Luhansk achieved the status of city in 1882. Located in the Donets Basin, Luhansk was developed by the Soviet authorities into an important industrial center of the Eastern Europe, particularly a home to the major locomotive-building company. During the Soviet times the city was known as Voroshilovgrad (Template:Lang-ru/ua) in honour of the Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov, a native of Lugansk. The name was changed on November 5, 1935, but on March 5, 1958, the old name was reinstated in accordance with a new law that prohibited namings in honour of living people. 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 back the city its original name.

Sport

Luhansk is home to Zorya Luhansk which now plays in the premier league Ukrainian annual football championship and who plays into Avanhard Stadium. The other football team is Dynamo Luhansk.

Luhansk Pyramid

Main article: Mergeleva Ridge

On September 7, 2006, Archaeologists in Ukraine claimed an ancient pyramidal structure, which they allege antedates 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 South America. It was later concluded that the site in question was not a pyramid but still of great interest.

Raions of Luhasnk

Famous people from Luhansk

• 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, born in a suburb of Luhansk
• Oleksandr Zavarov (born 1961), a famous Soviet and Ukrainian football player and coach
• Valeriy Brumel (1942–2003), a famous Soviet olympic champion
• Mykola Shmatko (born 1943), is a contemporary Ukrainian sculptor, professor and painter.
• Serhiy Semak Russian football player
• Tatyana Snezhyna Russian poetess, composer and singer.
• Dr. Dmytro E Kourennyi Anatomy and Physiology at Case Western Reserve University

See also

• Luhansk Airport
• Lugansk Airlines
• Lugansk State Medical University
• Luhanskteplovoz a major employer in the city

External links

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