Chortkiv

Chortkiv is a city in western Ukraine, located in Ternopil Oblast on the Seret River. It functions as an administrative center in the region and is a historic settlement with a population in the tens of thousands.

The city is known for Chortkiv Fortress, a 17th-century stronghold that sits above the town and remains a prominent landmark. The fortress and surrounding fortifications reflect the area’s strategic importance in early modern regional conflicts and the shifting borders of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Ottoman Empire, and other powers.

Chortkiv has medieval origins and over the centuries has been part of various states. It belonged to the Kingdom of Poland and later to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the late 18th century, following the partitions of Poland, the town became part of the Habsburg Monarchy’s Galicia. In the 20th century, the area experienced border changes due to conflicts and political realignments, and after the dissolution of the Soviet Union it became part of independent Ukraine.

Economy in Chortkiv centers on light manufacturing, food processing, and services, with agriculture playing a role in the surrounding district. The city supports cultural institutions, local museums, and festivals that reflect regional history and heritage.