Lugansk (Luhansk) is a city in southeastern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the predominantly Russian-speaking Lugansk Oblast (province). The city itself is also designated as its own separate raion within the oblast, and is part of the historic region of Donbass. The current estimated population is around 445,900.

The territory of the city has the following geographical limits:

Latitude 47° 49' N - 50° 05' N
Longitude 37° 52' E - 40° 12' E.

History

The city traces its history to 1795, when the British industrialist Charles Gascoigne founded a metal factory there. It was the beginning of an industry that still thrives there today. Lugansk achieved the status of city in 1882. Located in the Donets Basin, Lugansk was developed by the Soviet authorities into an important industrial center of the Eastern Europe, particularly a home to the major locomotive-building company.

The city was known as Voroshilovgrad from 1935 to 1958, and from 1970 to 1990, after the Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov, who came from the city. The name was changed on November 5, 1935, to honor Marshal Voroshilov. It was changed back to the historical Lugansk on March 5, 1958 during the repudiation of Stalin's personality cult. Then, on January 5, 1970, following Voroshilov's death, it was changed back to Voroshilov. Finally, on May 4, 1990, the name was returned to the historical name of the city by decree of the Ukrainian parliament.

Industry

Lugansk is in the heavily industrialized far-eastern region of Ukraine. It is almost exclusively Russian-speaking. Lugansk has been experiencing rapid economic growth over the past five years, with lots of new construction and commercial development.

Economy

The major branch of industry of Lugansk is heavy engineering, dominated by a huge diesel-locomotive works. Steel tubes, coal-mining equipment, spare parts for motor vehicles, and precision instruments also are made in Lugansk. Coal is mined in Lugansk. There are also wood and timber-working industries in Lugansk.

Cultural Center

Lugansk is also recognized as an important cultural and educational center. The city boasts several Drama Theatres, a Philharmonic Society, numerous Museums, as well as a Circus and a Puppet Theatre for the young and old alike. Lugansk is famous for its universities including: the East-Ukrainian National University, Shevchenko State Pedagogical University, State Agricultural University, and State Medical University. A byproduct the city's educational excellence was scholar and resident Vladimir Dahl. A close friend of Alexander Pushkin, he is distinguished for writing The Defining Dictionary of the Great Living Russian Language.

The most visited sites

- Regional Museum of Local Lore,  its modern building is one of the architectural attractions of the city;
- Regional  Art Museum;
- Museum of History and Culture of Lugansk city;
- Of special interest is the open air museum of stone statues near the Pedagogical University. There are about 70 sculptures, they are over 700 years old and they  have been collected for 25 years in Lugansk region;
- Monument to the Fighters for the revolution;
- Monument to “Lugansk Worker”;
- Monument to Marshal Voroshilov (1881-1969) has long become a Symbol of the city;
- Memorial house-museum of Vladimir Dal who was an outstanding representative of his time - specialist in lexicology and dialects, author of  fundamental dictionary of Russian language, surgeon and writer, an engineer, a man of encyclopaedic knowledge. Not far from the house is the monument to him which is called “Lugansk Cossack” – it was the Dal’s name;
- The house of the technical progress.

Education

Lugansk is famous for its institutes and universities: the East-Ukrainian National University, Shevchenko State Pedagogical University, State Agricultural University, State Medical University, Institute of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

How to get to Lugansk

Air - Lugansk can be reached by internal flights from Kiev and other cities within Ukraine.
Road - Lugansk is reached by main roads in its section of Ukraine.  See distance table below.  These distances are based on main roads wherever possible.   For distances to other cities in Ukraine, compute the distances through Kiev.
Train - Lugansk can be reached by train from Kiev, Donetsk, Kharkiv and other cities.