Luhansk

Coat of Arms adopted in 1903 and reconfirmed in 1991.

Luhansk ([Луга́нськ, Luhans'k] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help); [Луга́нск, Lugansk] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a city in southeastern Ukraine. Administratively - a capital city of Luhansk Oblast (province), historically - part of Donbass region. Population 445,900 (2004).

Located in the Donets Basin, Luhansk is an important industrial center of the Eastern Europe, particularly a home to the major locomotive-building company.

A metal factory was founded here in 1795, the beginnings of an industry that still thrives there today. Luhansk achieved the status of city in 1882.

The city was known as Voroshilovgrad from 1935 to 1958, and from 1970 to 1990, after the Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov, who came from the city. The name was changed on November 5, 1935, to honor General Voroshilov. It was changed back to the historical Luhansk on March 5, 1958 during the repudiation of Stalin's personality cult. Then, on January 5, 1970, followiing Voroshilov's death, it was changed back to Voroshilov. Finally, on May 4, 1990, the name was returned to the historical name of the city by decree of the Ukrainian parliament.

Luhansk is twinned with Cardiff, Wales; Lublin, Poland; Pernik, Bulgaria; Székesfehérvár, Hungary; Saint-Etienne, France; Daging, China.

Personalities

• Vladimir Dal (1801-1872), greatest Russian lexicographer, born in Luhansk.
• Kliment Voroshilov, Soviet military commander, born in a suburb of Luhansk

External link

• Topographic map 1:100 000