Pinsk

Pinsk is a city in southwestern Belarus, serving as the administrative center of Pinsk District in Brest Region. It lies on the Pina River within the Polesia wetlands and functions as a regional transport and economic hub. The city has a river port and is connected by rail and road to other parts of Belarus.

As a historical settlement, Pinsk has diverse influences. It developed under the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the 19th century it was incorporated into the Russian Empire. In the 20th century the area changed hands between Poland and the Soviet Union before becoming part of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and, after 1991, independent Belarus. The city has historically hosted Belarusian, Polish and Jewish communities; the Jewish population was significantly affected by the Holocaust during World War II, and the community did not recover to prewar levels.

Demographically, Pinsk has a population of about 60,000 people. The modern economy centers on agriculture, forestry and timber processing, food processing, and services linked to the river port and district government.

Culture and features include several churches, a regional museum, and educational institutions. Pinsk lies in the Polesia region, an area noted for wetlands and nature reserves, including proximity to the Pinsk Marshes, a distinctive landscape of the area. The city preserves historical architecture and serves as a local cultural and administrative center within Brest Region.