Henichesk
City
Native nameГенічеськ
OblastKherson Oblast
RaionHenichesk Raion
HromadaHenichesk urban hromada
Founded1784
City status1938
Coordinates46°10′N 34°48′E
Elevation16 m
Population as of2022
Population total18889
Area total7.04 km²
Postal code75500-75509
Area code(+380) 5534
Registration plateBT / 22
Websitewww.genichesk.com.ua

Henichesk (Ukrainian: Генічеськ, ɦeˈn⁽ʲ⁾itʃesʲk; Russian: Геническ, ɡʲɪˈnʲitɕɪsk) is a port city along the Sea of Azov in Kherson Oblast, southern Ukraine. It serves as the administrative centre of Henichesk Raion. Since 9 November 2022, it has served as the temporary administrative centre of the Russian occupation administration in the region. Henichesk also hosts the administration of Henichesk urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine.[1][2] In January 2022, Henichesk had an estimated population of

As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the city has been under Russian occupation. Following the 2022 Ukrainian southern counteroffensive, Henichesk became the de facto administrative centre of the oblast under Russian occupation.[3][4][5][6]

History

In 1640 Evliya Çelebi mentioned a Chenishke fortress. The name Henichesk is derived from a Turkic root for "narrow" referring to a thin strip of Azov Sea nearby. In 1648 Guillaume de Beauplan described it: "is but two hundred paces over, and fordable in calm weather".[7]

After the annexation of Crimean Khanate, Henichesk was founded as a fort by the Russian Empire in 1784[8] and from 1812 was also known as Ust-Ozivske. It was a port and a trade center on the salt route that went from Crimea north to Ukraine and Russia. At the turn of the 20th century, it was the location of one of the largest flour mills in southern Ukraine.[9]

During the Ukrainian War of Independence, from 1917 to 1920, it passed between various factions. Afterwards it was administratively part of the Zaporizhzhia Governorate of Ukraine.[10][11]

During World War II, the town was occupied by Nazi Germany. The Germans operated a prison in the town.[12]

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

See also: Southern Ukraine campaign

On 24 February 2022, Henichesk was seized by the Russian army as a result of the escalating Russo-Ukrainian War. During this process, an incident occurred where an old woman confronted Russian soldiers and said "Put sunflower seeds in your pockets so they grow on Ukraine soil when you die."[13] The city was also the scene of the death of Vitalii Skakun, who died blowing up a bridge in an attempt to stop the Russian advance.[14][better source needed][15][16][17]

On 18 April, Russian forces restored the monument of Lenin, which had been removed by the Ukrainian government as part of the country's decommunization process.[18][19]

On 3 June, Volodymyr Zelenskyy decreed the creation of a military administration for the city.[20]

On 9 November, separatist leader and deputy head of the military–civilian administration of Russian-occupied Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, died in a crash near Henichesk.[21]

On 21 November, Ismail Abdullaiev and the Tavria TV channel relocated to Henichesk from Kherson after it was recaptured by Ukrainian forces.[22]

Demographics

Ethnic makeup of the town according to the 2001 Ukrainian census:[23]

Distribution by native language:[24]

Geography

Location

Henichesk is located at the point of connection between the Sea of Azov and Syvash bay. Arabat Spit, which is located in the vicinity, contains numerous salt lakes, the biggest of which, Henicheske, bears the name of the city.[25]

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Henichesk has a humid continental climate that closely borders on a semi-arid climate with cold winters and warm summers.

Economy

Henichesk is the location of a sea port. Traditional branches of the local economy are fishing and production of salt from the nearby lakes.[25]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Погиб замглавы Херсонской области Кирилл Стремоусов" (in Russian). РБК. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Геническая городская громада" (in Russian). Портал об'єднаних громад України.
  3. ^ "Occupation 'government' of Kherson region announces temporary relocation of regional capital to Henichesk". Novaya Gazeta Europe. November 12, 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Ukraine carries out 'stabilisation' of Kherson after night of jubilation". The Guardian. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Временной столицей аннексированной Херсонской области объявили Геническ" (in Russian). Meduza. 12 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Херсонские власти опровергли перенос столицы в Геническ" (in Russian). РБК. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  7. ^ de Beauplan, Guillaume. "Diasporiana Електронна бібліотека | A Description of Ukraine by Guillaume le Vasseur Sieur de Beauplan". diasporiana.org.ua. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  8. ^ "The First Annexation of Crimea 1784 : Crimea". www.crimeahistory.org. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  9. ^ "Entry Display Web Page"
  10. ^ С. Я. Хургин (1921). Карта Украинской Социалистической Советской Республики (in Russian). Народный комиссариат внутренних дел.
  11. ^ С. Хургін (1922). Адміністраційна Мапа Української Соц. Рад. Республіки (in Ukrainian). Kharkiv: Народний комісаріат внутрішніх справ.
  12. ^ "Gefängnis Henices'k" (in German). Bundesarchiv.de. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Ukrainian woman to Russian soldier: 'Put sunflower seeds in your pocket so they grow when you die'". News Room Guyana. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  14. ^ Jackson, Jon (25 February 2022). ""Heroic" Ukrainian soldier blows up bridge, himself to halt Russia advances". Newsweek. Archived 26 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Ukrainian woman offers seeds to Russian soldiers so 'sunflowers grow when they die' – video". The Guardian. 2022-02-25. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Brave Ukrainian woman tells Russian soldier: 'Put sunflower seeds in your pocket so they grow when you die'". sports.yahoo.com. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Ukrainian woman tells Russian soldier to put sunflower seeds pocket so they bloom". The Independent. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Friends no longer, Ukraine removes Russian statues and street names". Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  19. ^ "В оккупированном Геническе установили памятник Ленину"
  20. ^ "ЗЕЛЕНСЬКИЙ ПІДПИСАВ УКАЗ ПРО СТВОРЕННЯ ВІЙСЬКОВОЇ АДМІНІСТРАЦІЇ В ГЕНІЧЕСЬКУ" (in Ukrainian). 5 канал. 2022-06-03. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  21. ^ Tenisheva, Anastasia (2022-11-09). "Deputy Head of Russian-Occupied Kherson Region Dies in Car Crash". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  22. ^ "В Херсонской области восстановлена работа российского телеканала "Таврия"" [The work of the Russian TV channel Tavria has been restored in the Kherson region] (in ru-RU). Don 24. 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  23. ^ "Національний склад міст"
  24. ^ "Рідні мови в об'єднаних територіальних громадах України"
  25. ^ Енциклопедія українознавства. Словникова частина (ЕУ-II). Vol. 1. 1993. pp. 361–362.
  26. ^ "Daits Yosyp Abramovych"
  27. ^ "Геничанка Юлия Мендель стала пресс-секретарем Президента Зеленского" (in Russian). genichesk.info. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.