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Kirovohrad (Кіровоград)

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Nickname(s): Little Paris (used in historical context)Motto: With peace and goodness

Location of KirovohradCoordinates: 48°30′0″N 32°16′0″

Country UkraineOblast Kirovohrad OblastRaion City municipalityFounded 1754City rights 1765, 1782Government • Mayor Oleksandr SainsusArea • Total 103 km2 (40 sq mi)Population (2004) • Total 239,400 • Density 2,324/km2 (6,020/sq mi)Postal code 25000-490Area code(s) +380 522Sister cities Dobrich

Kirovohrad (Ukrainian: Кіровогра́д, [kirowoˈɦrɑd̪]; Russian: Кировогра́д, Kirovograd), formerly Yelisavetgrad, is a city in central Ukraine. It is located on the Inhul River. It is a motorway junction. Pop. 239,400 (2004 est.).Developed around a military settlement the city got to prominence in the 19th century when it became an important trade centre enjoying the rights of the Ukrainian culture promoter with the first professional theatrical company both in Central and Eastern Ukraine being established here in 1882.In Soviet times the city rose to the status of an agricultural and light industry centre whose fame was due to such enterprises as Chervona Zirka Agricultural Machinery Plant, Hydrosila Hydraulic Units Plant, Radiy Radio Component Plant, Pishmash Typewriter Plant. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kirovohrad saw the decline of the city's industrial potential. Since 2002 the economics of Kirovohrad has been slowly reviving.

Administrative statusToday Kirovohrad is a city of regional importance with 244,000 inhabitants. It is divided into two districts — Kirovsky and Leninsky. The village Nove is in Kirovsky district.

Name originThroughout the history Kirovohrad changed its name several times.Presenting the letter of grant on January 11, 1752 to Major-General Jovan Horvat, the organizer of Nova Serbia settlements, the Empress Elizabeth of Russia ordered "to found the earthen fortress and name it the Fort of St. Elizabeth" (see On the Historical Meaning of the Name Elizabeth for Our City) (in Ukrainian). Thus very ambivalently the future city was called in honour of its formal founder, the Russian empress, and simultaneously with due respect to her heavenly patroness, St. Elizabeth.

In 1924 the city was renamed Zinovievsk, (also spelled Zinovyevsk,) - after Grigory Zinoviev, a Soviet statesman and one of the Russian Communist Party (bolsheviks) leaders, who was born in Yelisavetgrad on September 20 (September 8 O.S.), 1883. At the time referred he was the member of Politburo and the Chairman of the Comintern's Executive Committee.

On December 27, 1934, after the assassination of Sergei Kirov, Zinovievsk and other Soviet cities was renamed again - this time as Kirovo, and then as Kirovograd. The latter name appeared simultaneously with the creation of Kirovograd Oblast, on January 10, 1939 and was aimed to differentiate the region from Kirov Oblast in present-day Russia.After the independence of Ukraine, the name of the city got started to be spelled directly via Ukrainian pronunciation as Kirovohrad, though previous Russified orthography is still widely used due to the wide spread of this language in the region.

Since 1991 there have been a lot of discussions on the future fate of the city name. A number of activists fervently support the idea to return the city its original name Yelisavetgrad (or now Yelysavethrad in Ukrainian transcription). Other variants were also proposed by people who consider the name of the Russian Empress Elizabeth inappropriate for contemporary Ukraine: they were Tobilevychi (in honour of the Tobilevych family, the Coryphaei of the classic Ukrainian drama established in Kirovohrad in 1882), Zlatopil, from Ukrainian "золоте поле", literally "golden field", andStepohrad, Ukrainian for "city of steppes" (in recognition of the agricultural status of the city), Ukrayinsk or Ukrayinoslav, i.e. "the glorifying Ukraine one" and Novokozachyn (to commemorate the semi-fabulous Cossack regiment which could have quartered in the present-day city location).Due to the slight tensions existing among the followers of different variants mentioned above and primarily because of annual city budget deficit the deal of Kirovohrad renaming remains an unresolved case.

History and SymbolsThe history of the city foundation dates back to the year 1754 when St. Elizabeth’s fortress was built on the lands of former Zaporizka Sich in the upper course of the Inhul, Suhokleya and Biyanka Rivers. The historic name of the city Yelysavethrad was changed for Zinovyevsk in 1924, for Kirovo in 1934. The city was renamed Kirovohrad on the 10th of January, 1939.Three blue stripes crossed in the middle of the fortress plan symbolize the fortification location in the meeting place of the Inhul, Suhukleya and Biyanka Rivers. The crimson colour favoured by Cossacks testifies the fact that the fortress was situated on the lands of Zaporozky Cossacks. Golden ears together with a golden field on the shield are symbols of fertile lands and wealth of our country. The shield is held by storks, they symbolize happiness, procreation and love for the native land. The golden tower in the form of a crown points at the fact that this coat of arms belongs to the regional centre. The motto “With peace and good” placed on the azure stripe emphasizes the same idea. All the details of the flag correlate with the main elements of the shield on the coat of arms of the city. Kirovohrad is situated in the centre of Kirovohrad Region, which, in its turn, is the geographic centre of Ukraine. Nowadays the city is living, working, dreaming and changing for better, just as the whole country.

Famous people from Kirovohrad• Irina Belotelkin, artist and fashion designer•Olesya Dudnik, a Soviet gymnast•Israel Fisanovich, a Soviet Navy submarine commander, hero of the Soviet Union•Grigory Gamarnik, USSR, world champion (Greco-Roman lightweight), world championship silver•Moses Gomberg, a chemist•Boris Hessen, a historian of science•Andrei Kanchelskis, a Russian-Ukrainian footballer•Jake Marmer, Jewish poet best known for Umtza, an avant-garde take on Passover.•Heinrich Neuhaus, a Soviet pianist and pedagogue of German extraction•Victor Orly, French painter, born in Kirovohrad.•Maurice Podoloff, American Hockey League and National Basketball Association pioneer/executive•Valeriy Porkujan, a Soviet footballer•Andriy Rusol, football player•African Spir (or Afrikan Spir), a philosopher•Alexei Suetin, a Soviet-Russian International Grandmaster of chess and an author•Arseny Tarkovsky, Russian poet•Leon Trotsky, a Bolshevik revolutionary and a Soviet Communist politician•John Wegner (1887–1976), artist•Grigory Zinoviev, a Bolshevik revolutionary and a Soviet Communist politician

Educational fieldKirovohrad is known as a city of pupils’ and students’ youth. There are 44 secondary schools and 1 institution of I-II level accreditation where more than twenty-two thousand children are fostering and studying. Taking into account the needs of local community and the requirements of the present a new type of institutions are successfully developing: colleges, gymnasiums, lyceum, educational complexes and unions.More than twenty five thousand future teachers, psychologists, social workers, lawyers, interpreters, engineers, economists, managers, financiers, marketing specialists, pilots, air traffic controllers study in 19 higher educational establishments. Among Ukraine’s higher educational institutions, important places are occupied by Kirovohrad National Technical University, Kirovohrad V.Vynnychenko State Pedagogical University, National Aviation University. Due to preserving of old academic traditions, selfless labour of the administration and the teaching staff these powerful intellectual and scientific centres supplied with up-to-date teaching techniques prepared and gave the way to many highly qualified specialists.

Every year the City Mayor awards the scholarships to the students who have outstanding achievements in studying, scientific and civil activity. Student councils and trade unions operate in Kirovohrad higher educational institution. Students have an opportunity to use them for effective solution of the youth’s problems, consolidation of democratic basis of the Ukrainian society. In 2011 the Youth Council was established under the city Council, the participants of which are the most active young people of our city. The City Students Peace Festival, the Gentleman of the Year Show, the Brain Ring, the KVK Championship are traditionally held in our city. High-quality, available education, as well as high level of preparation of specialists allow students to take part in the Ukrainian and international contests and competitions and win the first prizes.

Theatrical artIn 1882 the first Ukrainian professional theatre was founded in Kirovohrad. Its founder was Marko Kropyvnytsky, the brilliant actor, director and playwright. By the play “Natalka Poltavka” he announced to the world the maturity and originality of Ukrainian theatrical culture. Its 130th birthday in October, 2012 the Kirovohrad Regional Ukrainian Academic Music and Drama Theatre named after M. Kropyvnytsky celebrated in a rebuilt building. Its walls haven’t seen so much audience and applause for a long time. The event is really unique not only for Kirovohrad but for the whole country. After the renovation it is the first theatre built in the time of independent Ukraine. The theatre scrupulously honours the memory of the founders of the Ukrainian theatrical art — M. Sadovsky, I. Karpenko-Karyi, P.Saksahansky, M. Zankovetska.The heritage of these men of genius gives force to the modern troupe, whose calling card are the plays “Natalka Poltavka”, “Sorochynskyi Fair”, “Match-Making in Honcharivka”. Every year the theatre invites the leading art companies of the country to Khutor Nadia, “the capital of Ukrainian dramaturgy” and the reserve museum of I.Tobilevych (Karpenko-Karyi), for the national festival “Veresnevi Samotsvity”.

Recreation areasThe city offers a variety of areas for recreation, health improvement and educational excursions. Much attention is paid to development of parks, public gardens and squares. A pedestrian zone status makes Dvortsova Street the most popular place of the evening rendezvous. It is the street of small cafes, restaurants and shops and music which sounds here almost round — the clock. Most often the scales are heard from the windows of Music and Arts Faculty of the State Pedagogic University named after V. Vynnychenko in which the future virtuosos improve their artistic skills. The lungs of the city is the Arboretum — a picturesque island with an attractive green zone landscape and various amusements. Its special feature is 100 thousand tulips which in spring gladden the eyes of all those who want to see the “Kirovohrad wonder”. The reputation of the favourite place of recreation is gained by the culture and recreation park “Kovalyvskyi". “The Arts Weekends”, the people walking, sports competitions, entertaining performances etc. are held here. The greatest children's playground has been built on money which was gained for victory of Kirovohrad team in the Ukrainian project “Maidans”. The Kirov Square is always crowded. Branchy trees, picturesque flowerbeds and fountains make the people enjoy themselves comfortably. Bogdan Khmelnitskyi Square and a public garden where the monument of the Great Kobzar Taras Shevchenko was built, are the places where local and national holidays are celebrated. A real adornment of the city and a favorite place of the wedding couples is a European type square in front of the Kirovohrad City Hall. Four stadiums, a range of sports grounds and tennis courts offer their services to inhabitants and guests of Kirovohrad. An aquatic sports base, a swimming pool and “SLAIZ" skating-rink guarantee high spirits and holiday recreation to all the visitors. The cinemas “Zorianyi" and "Portal" offer newest movies.

Centre of folk choreographyKirovohrad is truly considered the capital of Ukrainian choreography. Traditions started by the “Yatran” group and its leader people’s artist of Ukraine Anatoliy Kryvokhyzha are successfully continued by the collectives well-known outside the city — Academic theatre of music, song and dance “Zoryany”, People’s Choreographic Group “Prolisok, Exemplary Choreographic Group “Nadiya”, choreographic groups “Rosynka”, “Metelytsya”, the people’s amateur group of ballroom dances “Konvaliya”, the school of choreographic art of the Kirovohrad city council “Aelita”, dance theatre “Visiting a Fairytale”. Concert programmes of these creative groups are the synthesis of collection, study and artistic processing of the folk melos, the folklore of world’s nations and the creative experience of the leading artists of Ukraine. Among their achievements are recognition, victories in the international, republican festivals, competitions, numerous prizes, performances on the best stages of Ukraine, Russia, the Baltic countries, Serbia, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Holland, Japan, Morocco, Italy, Greece. The achievements of the group “Prolisok” have given the opportunity to open the department of choreographic studies at Kirovohrad State Pedagogic university named after Volodymyr Vynnychenko, and later on the regional general secondary educational complex of humanitarian-aesthetic profile. The reputation of the city as centre of dance and choreography has been confirmed by the triumph of Kirovohrad team in the Ukrainian national project “Maidan’s” — the grand dance show on the main square of the country — Independence Square. Kirovohrad has deservedly won an honorary title of Dance Capital of Ukraine and was awarded one million hryvnias for construction of modern and safe playgrounds for children. The team succeeded under the leadership of the young talented choreographer Oleksandr Leshchenko. During a triumph show dedicated to the winners a new world record was established — 14585 spectators and choreographic groups members were dancing simultaneously on the stadium of FC Zirka. This record was documented by the representative of Guinness Book of Records in Ukraine.

SportsThere are 48 kinds of sports which are popular in Kirovohrad and 14 sports centres for kids and a school of high sportsmanship where 5 thousand children go in for sports. In our town modern sports-grounds with synthetic flooring are built in the sports-club “Energo-Sport” and in the school “Mriya”; there is also a skateboarding zone in the Kovalivskiy recreation park, the Street Workout in Permska Street, and the first in our region cycle track opened in Kirovohrad. Great attention is paid to the development of sports among children. As a result, young Kirovohrad sportsmen demonstrate high results in national and international competitions: Olha Sviderska, Anastasia Mysnyk, Yevhen Zinoviev are silver medallists of the XIV Paralympics in London; Anna Tovsta, Iryna Tereshchenko are silver medalists of the XXII Summer Deaf Olympics in Bulgaria; Tetyana Tereviatnykova is the teakwood champion of the world championship; Olena Demydova is the multiple medalist of cycle racing European championships; Anastasia Kelar is the bronze medalist of the European weightlifting youth championship. In 2013 Dmytro Yakovenko (high jumping), Bohdan Basko (chess), Olexander Kostyk, Sergiy Fomin (shooting), Olena Gutsan, Ksenia Fedotova (cycle racing), Dmytro Kapinus (athletics), Yana Zdir (climbing), Iryna Maksymova, Julia Prudyus (powerlifting) became the national champions. In team sports our town is professionally presented by the baseball club “KNTU Elizavetgrad” which 16 times became the national champion and 15 times became the owner of Ukrainian sports cup, the football team “Zirka” which is the regular participant of the Ukrainian football championship of the Second League; basketball clubs such as Elizavet-Basket (the silver medalist of the First League of the National Basketball Championship among women) and the basketball team “Kirovohrad”, Alina Yagupova was recognized as the best young basketball player of Europe.

ClimateKirovohrad is located in the central region of Ukraine. Kirovohrad's climate is moderate continental: cold and snowy winters, and hot summers. The seasonal average temperatures are not too cold in winter, not too hot in summer: −4.8 °C (23.4 °F) in January, and 20.7 °C (69.3 °F) in July. The average precipitation is 534 mm (21 in) per year, with the most in June and July.