|
Donetsk (Ukrainian: Донецьк) Russian: Донецк, translit. Donetsk;
former names: Yuzovka, Staline, Stalino, see also: Cities'
alternative names), is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the
Kalmius river. Administratively, it is a center of Donetsk
Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and
largest city of the economic and cultural Donets Basin (Donbass)
region. The city was founded in 1869 by a Welsh businessman,
John Hughes, who constructed a steel plant and several coal
mines in the region; the town was thus named Yuzovka (Юзовка) in
recognition of his role in its founding ("Yuz" being a Russian
or Ukrainian approximation of Hughes). During Soviet times, the
city's steel industry was expanded. In 1924 at the plenum
Yuzovsky executive committee had decided to rename the town from
Yuzovka to Stalin (Сталiн). In 1929-1931 the town was renamed in
Stalino (Сталино). In 1932 the city became the center of Donetsk
region. In 1961, during the De-Stalinisation the city was again
renamed to its modern name Donetsk after the Seversky Donets
river. In addition, some sources state that the city was briefly
called Trotsk—after Leon Trotsky—for a few months in 1923. Today,
the city still remains an important industrial centre for coal
and steel in Ukraine. The city is currently home to two major
professional football teams in Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk and
Metalurh Donetsk, both of which currently play in the Ukrainian
Premier League. Important attractions of the city include the
Cathedral Transfiguration of Jesus, the Donetsk National
University, and others. Donetsk currently has a population of
over 982,000 inhabitants (2010) and has a metropolitan area of
over 1,566,000 inhabitants (2004). According to the 2001
Ukrainian Census, Donetsk is the fifth-largest city in Ukraine. |
