Kirovsk, Leningrad Oblast

History

Kirovsk was founded in 1929 as the settlement of Nevdubstroy (Невдубстрой) by Sergey Kirov and was serving the 8th Sergey Kirov Power Station. At the time, it was a part of Mginsky District with the administrative center in the settlement of Mga. The district was a part of Leningrad Okrug of Leningrad Oblast until August 15, 1930, when the okrugs were abolished as well, and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January 21, 1931 the settlement of Nevdubstroy was transferred to Leningradsky Prigorodny District. On May 20, 1936, it was granted urban-type settlement status and renamed pri 8-y GES imeni Kirova (при 8-й ГЭС имени Кирова); the name was later shortened to imeni Kirova (имени Кирова). On August 19, 1936, when Leningradsky Prigorodny District was abolished, the settlement was transferred back to Mginsky District. Between September 1941 and January 1944, during World War II, the settlement was occupied by German troops. The settlement was renamed Kirovsk, after Sergey Kirov, and granted town status on November 5, 1953.

On December 9, 1960, Mginsky District was abolished and split between Volkhovsky and Tosnensky Districts. Kirovsk was transferred to Tosnensky District. On February 1, 1963, it became a town of oblast significance. On April 1, 1977, Kirovsky District was established by splitting off Volkhovsky and Tosnensky Districts, with the administrative center in Kirovsk, essentially in the limits of former Mginsky District. In 2010, the administrative structure of Leningrad Oblast was harmonized with its municipal structure, and Kirovsk became a town of district significance.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Kirovsk serves as the administrative center of Kirovsky District. As an administrative division, it is, together with settlement of Molodtsovo, incorporated within Kirovsky District as Kirovskoye Settlement Municipal Formation. As a municipal division, Kirovskoye Settlement Municipal Formation is incorporated within Kirovsky Municipal District as Kirovskoye Urban Settlement.

Economy and infrastructure

The town consists of the Old Town built in the 1950s and Ladoga, the part built during the Soviet construction boom of the 1980s. The main industries suffered severely during the 1990s. Most people try to find work in the nearby St. Petersburg.

Kirovsk has four high schools, a music school, and a hospital, but no maternity ward. The main employers are the Ladoga plant (which manufactured Soviet nuclear submarine equipment until it switched to machine parts and electronics), Dubrovsky Zavod, and the 8th Power Station. Because of these industries, Kirovsk was considered a closed town.

Kirovsk (Nevdubstroy railway station) is connected by railway to Mga. There are several direct suburban trains to St. Petersburg, Moskovsky railway station, and Ladozhsky railway station.

The A120 road, which encircles St. Petersburg, passes Kirovsk. The M18 Highway, which connects St. Petersburg and Murmansk, passes several kilometers north of the town. The Neva River is navigable.

Kirovsk is home to the Diorama, which is housed inside the Ladozhsky Bridge over the Neva River. The site, otherwise known as "The Road of Life", commemorates Kirovsk's role as being the sole entry point for goods destined to Leningrad when the Nazi German troops besieged the city during World War II.