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Pokrovsk, Ukraine

Coordinates: 48°16′58″N 37°10′58″E / 48.28278°N 37.18278°E / 48.28278; 37.18278
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Pokrovsk
The Saint Michael the Angel Orthodox Church of Pokrovsk, photographed in 2012
The Saint Michael the Angel Orthodox Church of Pokrovsk, photographed in 2012
Flag of Pokrovsk
Coat of arms of Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk is located in Donetsk Oblast
Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk shown within Donetsk
Pokrovsk is located in Ukraine
Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk shown within Ukraine
Coordinates: 48°16′58″N 37°10′58″E / 48.28278°N 37.18278°E / 48.28278; 37.18278
Country Ukraine
OblastDonetsk Oblast
RaionPokrovsk Raion
HromadaPokrovsk urban hromada
Establishedc. 1880
City status1938
Area
 • Total29.57 km2 (11.42 sq mi)
Elevation
181 m (594 ft)
Population
 (1 January 2022)[1]
 • Total60,127
 • Density2,000/km2 (5,300/sq mi)
Postal code
85300—85309
Area code+380-6239
ClimateWarm summer subtype
KOATUU1413200000
KATETTOUA14160210010099403
Websitepokrovsk-rada.gov.ua
Map

Pokrovsk (Ukrainian: Покровськ, IPA: [poˈkrɔu̯sʲk] ; Russian: Покровск), formerly known as Krasnoarmiisk[a] (until 2016) and Grishino (until 1934),[b] is a city and the administrative center of Pokrovsk Raion in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. It is located 56 kilometres (35 mi) northwest of Donetsk.[2] Prior to 2020, it was incorporated as a city of oblast significance. Its population is approximately 60,127 (2022 estimate).[3]

Names

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  • 2016–present: Pokrovsk (Ukrainian: Покровськ; Russian: Покровск)[4]
  • 1964–2016: Krasnoarmiisk (Ukrainian: Красноармійськ) or Krasnoarmeysk (Russian: Красноармейск)
  • 1938–1964: Krasnoarmeyskoye (Russian: Красноармейское) or Krasnoarmiiske (Ukrainian: Красноармійське)[5][2]
  • 1934–1938: Postyshevo (Russian: Постышево) or Postysheve (Ukrainian: Постишеве)[6][2]
  • 1884–1934: Grishino (Russian: Гришино) or Hryshyne (Ukrainian: Гришине)[7]

History

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Pokrovsk was founded as Grishino in 1875 by a decision of the Ministry of Railways of the Russian Empire authorizing a railway station. The village had two thousand inhabitants.

In 1881, a locomotive depot which became one of the main locomotive repair companies, Ekaterinoslavskaya railway, was built in the town. Two years later, in 1883, there was an enlargement to the station building; the central portion survives to this day. In May 1884, trains finally began transiting the rail station in Grishino.

With the development of the railway station, Grishino grew and there were new businesses, in particular for exploitation of underground minerals, starting with coal. By 1913, the population around Grishino station had more than doubled to about 4.5 thousand people.

After the Russian Civil War ravaged Russia as a whole, Grishino station continued its growth and by 1925 had a locomotive depot, a brick factory, and six mines. The name of the station was changed to Postyshevo in 1934 to honor Pavel Postyshev, and in 1938, the name of the city became Krasnoarmeyskoe, commemorating the Soviet Red Army, after Postyshev was repressed during the Great Purge.

World War II heavily impacted the population of the city. The first Axis forces to arrive were Italians, followed by the Germans who occupied it on 19 October 1941. German forces proceeded to forcibly transfer many civilians by train to labor camps in Austria. Many residents defended their hometown. 8295 Soviet soldiers perished on the battlefield, and 4788 residents of the town were killed in World War II. The city witnessed an atrocity when its Jewish community was murdered in midwinter 1942.[8] Furthermore, in February 1943, the Red Army perpetrated the Massacre of Grischino. On 7 September 1943, the town was liberated for good by Red Army troops.

In the 1950s, in the post-war period, the city renewed its industrial and residential construction.

Russo-Ukrainian War

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War in Donbas

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In the War in Donbas, that is, since the spring of 2014, the city is near the frontline with the separatist Donetsk People's Republic.[9]

In May 2016, the city was renamed following decommunization laws[10] to Pokrovsk, honoring the Intercession of the Theotokos known as Pokrova in Ukrainian.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

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On 7 August 2023 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian missiles struck the city twice.[11] Nine people were reported killed from the strike, and 82 wounded.[12]

In July 2024, Russia renewed efforts to reach and capture Pokrovsk in a new offensive.[13] This axis being the main attack direction,[14] Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi noted the disparity of forces in terms of equipment and manpower, and high pressure on Ukrainian lines in this area.[15][16] According to Syrskyi, Russian forces are able to fire 12,000 shells per day while Ukrainian forces are only able to respond with 2,000-4,000 shells per day in this area of the front.[17] On 11 August 2024, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that 71 combat clashes occurred on the Pokrovsk axis and that Russian forces were "most actively advancing".[18] On 15 August 2024, Serhii Dobriak, the head of the Pokrovsk City Military Administration reported that Russian forces were only 10 km from the city,[19][20][21] and urged all citizens, especially the elderly and families with young children, to evacuate.[22] On 16 August, a police officer in the city estimated that 40,000 people remained in Pokrovsk.[23]

Demographics

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The population of Pokrovsk as of 1 August 2017 was 75,205 people.[24]

According to 2001 census data, the breakdown by ethnicity is:[25]

Population Percentage, %
Ukrainian 62,158 75.0
Russian 18,299 22.1
Belarusian 558 0.7
Armenian 307 0.4
Azerbaijani 215 0.3
Historical population
YearPop.±%
19238,203—    
192611,335+38.2%
193929,617+161.3%
195947,974+62.0%
197055,044+14.7%
YearPop.±%
197959,864+8.8%
198972,859+21.7%
200169,154−5.1%
201464,533−6.7%
Source: [26]

Native language per 2001 Ukrainian census:[27]

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Notes

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  1. ^ Ukrainian: Красноармійськ; Russian: Красноармейск, romanizedKrasnoarmeysk
  2. ^ Russian: Гришино; Ukrainian: Гришине, romanizedHryshyne

References

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  1. ^ "Чисельність наявного населення України (Actual population of Ukraine)" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Cohen 1998, p. 1615.
  3. ^ Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2022 [Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2022] (PDF) (in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Про перейменування деяких населених пунктів". rada.gov.ua. 12 May 2016.
  5. ^ Руководители центральных органов ВКП(б) в 1934-1939 гг. Справочник. p. 141.
  6. ^ Room, Adrian (2009). Alternate names of places : a worldwide dictionary. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. p. 106. ISBN 9780786437122.
  7. ^ "Krasnoarmiysk". britannica.com.
  8. ^ "Krasnoarmeyskoye". @yadvashem.
  9. ^ The vulnerable victims of the Ukrainian Conflict Archived 2015-05-28 at the Wayback Machine, Deutsche Welle (25 May 2015)
  10. ^ "Про перейменування деяких населених пунктів". Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України.
  11. ^ Boffey, Daniel; Sullivan, Helen (8 August 2023). "Russian 'double tap' missile strike kills seven near hotel used by journalists". The Guardian.
  12. ^ Smilianets, Vladyslav (8 August 2023). "Russian missiles kill nine, destroy hotel in eastern Donetsk, Ukraine says". Reuters.
  13. ^ Ebel, Francesca; Korolchuk, Serhii (27 July 2024). "Russia, adapting tactics, advances in Donetsk and takes more Ukrainian land". Washington Post.
  14. ^ Denisova, Kateryna (1 August 2024). "Ukraine war latest: Pokrovsk is Russia's main target after Kharkiv push failed, Zelensky says". Kyiv Independent.
  15. ^ "Syrskyi: Russia trying to break through defenses to reach Kurakhove, Pokrovsk". Kyiv Independent. 2024-05-06.
  16. ^ "War update: Fighting most tense in Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk axes". Ukrinform. 2024-06-13.
  17. ^ "Russia's offensive on Pokrovsk: is it possible to stop the invaders in this area?". ТСН.ua. August 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "Seventy-one combat clashes occur at front, enemy continues to advance in Pokrovsk axis - General Staff".
  19. ^ https://global.espreso.tv/russia-ukraine-war-russian-army-approaches-ukraines-pokrovsk-local-authorities-ask-civilians-to-evacuate
  20. ^ https://censor.net/en/news/3504915/occupiers_are_almost_close_to_pokrovsk_mma_calls_for_evacuation
  21. ^ https://english.nv.ua/nation/russian-forces-close-in-on-pokrovsk-authorities-urge-residents-to-evacuate-50443270.html
  22. ^ Williams, Nathan; Abdulla, Sophie (15 August 2024). "Ukrainian residents urged to evacuate eastern town as Russia closes in". BBC News.
  23. ^ Méheut, Constant (16 August 2024). "Russia Closes In on Key Eastern Ukrainian City Despite Kursk Incursion". The New York Times.
  24. ^ "Стало известно, сколько зарабатывают жители Покровска" Girnyk.dn.ua, 12 September 2017
  25. ^ Etnicity and Native Language breakdown of the Donetsk Oblast.
  26. ^ "Cities & towns of Ukraine". pop-stat.mashke.org.
  27. ^ "Офіційна сторінка Всеукраїнського перепису населення". www.ukrcensus.gov.ua.

Bibliography

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