Dnipropetrovsk

Dnipropetrovsk (Ukrainian: Дніпропетровськ, Dnipropetrovs'k; Russian: Днепропетро́вск, Dnepropetrovsk, formerly Екатериносла́в, Yekaterinoslav) is Ukraine's third largest city with 1.2 million inhabitants. It is located in the south-central section of the country, south of Kiev on the Dnieper river. Geographical location 48°27′ N 35°02′ E. Dnipropetrovsk is the administrative centre of the Dnipropetrovs'ka oblast'.

A vital industrial centre of Ukraine, Dnipropetrovsk was one of the key centres of the nuclear, arms, and space industries of the former Soviet Union. In particular, it is home to Yuzhmash, a major space and ballistic missile designer and manufacturer. Because of its military industry, the city was a closed city (no foreigners were allowed there) until the mid-nineties.

Dnipropetrovsk has a highly-developed transportation system, including one metro line with 6 stations.

History

17th and 18th century until 1775: Cossacks, Kodak fortress, rivarly of Poland, Turkey and Russia in the region

The locale's history dates back to Cossack times.

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In the Russian Empire: 1775 – 1917

The city was founded in the 18th century as a result of southern expansion of the Russian Empire. One former name, Yekaterinoslav, translates in English to "The glory of Yekaterina" (Catherine the Great).

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1917-1919: times of revolutions, German occupation and civil war

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1919-1991: in the Soviet Union

In the 20th to 21st centuries, the economic potential of the city has defined its political importance. Dnipropetrovsk and the surrounding oblas' are the birthplace of the so-called "Dnipropetrovsk Clan", an influential informal political group inside the CPSU, members of whom were the industrial and party elite. Leonid Brezhnev, a native of the nearby city of Dniprodzerzhyns'k and later Soviet Union Communist Party General Secretary, founded and pushed the Clan to the highest levels of the Soviet power structure. Its members are believed by many political scientists to have ruled not only the Ukrainian SSR but also the entire Soviet Union up to the ascendancy of Mikhail Gorbachev.

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After 1991: Since Ukrainian independence

In 2005, the most powerful representative of that clan is Leonid Kuchma, the former President of Ukraine, previously senior manager of Yuzhmash.

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Famous People from Dnipropretovsk

• Ilya Kabakov, contemporary art