Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia is a city in southern Ukraine and the administrative center of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. It sits on the Dnieper River opposite Khortytsia Island, the largest river island in the region. The name means “beyond the rapids,” a reference to the Dnieper’s historic rapids. The city has a population in the hundreds of thousands and serves as a regional economic and cultural hub.

The settlement was founded in 1770 as Aleksandrovsk by order of Catherine the Great and was renamed Zaporizhzhia in 1921. It developed as an industrial and transport center in the Soviet era and remains a major metallurgical and logistical center in Ukraine today.

Economy and infrastructure: Zaporizhzhia hosts large-scale industry, most notably the Zaporizhstal steel plant, one of Europe’s largest steelworks. The city functions as a river port and railway junction, with manufacturing, machinery, and food processing forming important sectors. It also hosts a range of services and supports regional commerce and industry.

Culture and sights: The nearby Khortytsia Island National Nature Reserve preserves Cossack history and offers outdoor recreation. The city has museums, theaters, and educational institutions that contribute to a growing cultural scene. Institutions include Zaporizhzhia National University and other universities, supporting a recognized academic presence in the region.

Demographics and status: Zaporizhzhia is the administrative center of the oblast and a regional economic anchor, with a population in the vicinity of 700,000. The city plays a key role in education, industry, and transportation in southern Ukraine.