Country Population 105,398 (2011) Area 96 km2 | Founded 1710 | |
Lysychansk (Ukrainian: , Russian: ) is a city in the Luhansk Oblast (region) of Ukraine. The city is designated as its own separate raion (district) within the oblast, and is located on the high right bank of the Seversky Donets River, approximately 90 km from the oblast capital, Luhansk.
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Map of Lysychansk
In 1952, Lysychansk became the regional center. The present borders of Lysychansk were finalized by the mid-1960s. In 1962 the city of Severodonetsk separated from Lysychansk and became its own independent city. In 1963 towns of Novodruzhesk and Pryvillia were included in the city limits of Lysychansk and became cities. In 1965 Lysychansk incorporated the cities of Verkhnye and Proletarsk.
Now, the administration of the Lysychansk Municipality includes cities: Novodruzhesk and Pryvillia.
Together with the cities of Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Kreminna and the nearest towns, the Lysychansk area constitutes a major urban and industrialized hub of the Donets basin area, with a population of about 353,000 (2009).
Geography
Lysychansk is located in the North-Western part of the Luhansk region, 115 km from Luhansk, on the high right bank of the Seversky Donets River. The area is surrounded by large hills, ravines and valleys. The city is interestingly situated on the northern spur of the Donets Ridge. This picturesque area was once called "Deer Mountain".
Lysychansk is located in the continental climate of the steppe zone of Ukraine. Water resources stemming from here are one of the most important resources. Seversky Donets is the main water artery of the Lysychansk and the whole region. The length of the Seversky Donets River within the city is 26.5 km. Belenkaya River, a tributary of the Donets River, flows through the southern part of the city, the length of the river within the city is 7.7 km.
History
The History of the Donetsk coal basin began in 1700 with the decree by Peter I to search for ore deposits, leading to the development of Lysychansk - "the cradle of Donbas". This type of coal mining lead to "pit heaps"- piles of rocks on the surface in the shape of large pyramids.
Previously existing settlements in the area around Lysychansk were completely destroyed by the Muscovy punitive expedition against the Bulavin Rebellion. After the uprising was extinguished the area was resettled with Voronove (founded by Khokhlova Coassacks), Syrotyne (Popov and Sirotina Cossacks), Borovenki (partly settled by Borovschan after the burning of the settlement Bohr), Metelkine (Metelnikova Cossacks) and Smolyaninove (Smolkina Cossacks).
During the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine the town was captured early April 2014 by pro-Russian separatists. On 22 July 2014 Ukrainian Ukrinform reported that the separatists "massively leave Lysychansk" with "seized cars from the population and in parking lots"; Russian ITAR-TASS reported the same day that the separatists had "decided to leave the town in order to save the population and stop clashes". The next day heavy fighting continued around the town while the Ukrainian National Guard and the Ukrainian army released a statement that stated "the military plan to free Lysychansk, Luhansk region, from terrorist groups in the near future". On 24 July 2014 the Ukrainian army claimed its troops had entered Lysychansk and its Col. Andriy Lysenko stated "We will take the town, and the road will be open to Horlivka, then Donetsk". On 25 July 2014, Ukrainian forces secured the city from the pro-Russian separatists.