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Lutsk

Coordinates:50°45′00″N25°20′09″E/ 50.75000°N 25.33583°E/50.75000; 25.33583
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Lutsk
Луцьк
City
Flag of Lutsk
Flag
Coat of arms of Lutsk
Coat of arms
Lutsk is located in Volyn Oblast
Lutsk
Lutsk
Location of Lutsk
Lutsk is located in Ukraine
Lutsk
Lutsk
Lutsk (Ukraine)
Coordinates:50°45′00″N25°20′09″E/ 50.75000°N 25.33583°E/50.75000; 25.33583
CountryUkraine
OblastVolyn Oblast
RaionLutsk Raion
HromadaLutsk urban hromada
Founded1085
City Rights1432
Government
•MayorIhor Polishchuk
Area
• Total72.3 km2(27.9 sq mi)
Elevation
174 m (571 ft)
Population
(2022)[1]
• Total220,986
• Density4,830/km2(12,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+3(EEST)
Postal code
43000
Area code+380 332
Sister citiesLublin
Websitelutskrada.gov.ua/en

Lutsk(Ukrainian:Луцьк,IPA:[lut͡sʲk]ⓘ;seebelowfor other names) is a city on theStyr Riverin northwesternUkraine.It is theadministrative centerofVolyn Oblastand the administrative center ofLutsk Raionwithin the oblast. Lutsk has a population of220,986 (2022 estimate).[1]Historically it was a cultural and religious center inVolhynia.

Names and etymology

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Lutsk is an ancientSlavictown, mentioned in theHypatian ChronicleasLucheskin the records of 1085. The etymology of the name is unclear. There are three hypotheses: the name may have been derived from the Old Slavic wordluka(an arc or bend in a river), or the name may have originated fromLuka(the chieftain of theDulebs), an ancient Slavic tribe living in this area. The name may also have been created afterLuchanii(Luchans), an ancient branch of the tribe mentioned above. Its historical name inUkrainianis "Луцьк".

The city of Lutsk is also historically known by different names in other languages –Polish:Łuck,IPA:[wutsk];Yiddish:לוצק,לויצק,romanized:Loytzk, Loutsk;as well asa number of other names.[2]

History

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According to the legend, Luchesk dates from the 7th century. The first known documentary reference dates were from the year 1085. The town served as the capital of the Principality ofHalych-Volynia(founded in 1199) until the rise ofVolodymyr.The town grew around a wooden stronghold built by a local branch of theRurik Dynasty.At certain times the location functioned as the capital of the principality, but the town did not become an important centre of commerce or culture.

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

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In 1240,Tatarsseized and lootedthe nearby town but left the castle unharmed. In 1321, George, son ofLev,the last prospective heir of Halych-Volynia, died in a battle with the forces ofGediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania,andLithuanianforces seized the castle. In 1349, the forces of KingCasimir III of Polandcaptured the town, but Lithuania soon retook it.

The town began to prosper during the period of Lithuanian rule. PrinceLubart(died 1384), son ofGediminas,erectedLubart's Castleas part of his fortification programme.Vytautas the Great,Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1392 to 1430, founded the town itself by importing colonists (mostlyJews,Tatars,andKaraims). In 1427 he transferred the Catholic bishopric from Volodymyr to Luchesk. Vytautas was the last monarch to use the title of "Duke of Volhynia" and to reside in Lubart's Castle.

The town grew rapidly, and by the end of the 15th century, there were 19 Orthodox and two Catholic churches. It was the seat of twoChristianbishops, one Catholic and one Orthodox. Because of that, the town was sometimes nicknamed "theVolhynian Rome."The cross symbol of Lutsk features the highest Lithuanian Presidential award, theOrder of Vytautas the Great.[citation needed]

In 1429 Lutsk was the meeting place selected for aconference of monarchshosted byJogailaandSophia of Halshanyto deal with the Tatar threat. Those invited to attend includedSigismund, Holy Roman Emperor;Vasili II of Russia,the king ofDenmark;Eric of Pomerania,the Grand Master of theLivonian Order;Zisse von Rutenberg, the Duke ofSzczecinKazimierz V;Dan II,theHospodarofWallachia;andPrince-electorsof most of the countries of Germany.

Crown of the Kingdom of Poland

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Lutheran church
Lutsk Old Town

In 1432, Volhynia became afiefof theCrown of the Kingdom of Polandand Lutsk became the seat of the governors, and later the Marshalls of the Land of Volhynia. That same year, the city was grantedMagdeburg rights.In 1569, Volhynia was fully incorporated into the Polish kingdom and the town became the capital of theVolhynian Voivodeshipand theŁuckpowiat(Polish administrative unit). After theUnion of Lublin,the local Orthodox bishop converted toEastern Catholicism.

The town continued to prosper as an important economic centre of the region. By the mid-17th century, Łuck had approximately 50,000 inhabitants and was one of the largest towns in the area. During theKhmelnytsky Uprising,the town was seized by the forces of Colonel Kolodko. Up to 4,000 people were slaughtered, approximately 35,000 fled, and the town was looted and partially burnt. It never fully recovered. In 1781, the city was struck by a fire which destroyed 440 houses, both cathedrals, and several other churches.

Russian Empire

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In 1795, as a result of thePartitions of Poland,theRussian Empireannexed Lutsk. The Voivodeship was liquidated and the town lost its significance as the capital of the province (which was moved toZhytomyr). After theNovember Uprising(1830–1831), efforts increased to remove Polish influence. Russian became the dominant language in official circles. Though, the population continued to speakUkrainian;the Polish population spokePolish;and the Jewish population spokeYiddish(only in private circles). TheGreek Catholic churcheswas turned intoOrthodox Christianones, which led to the self-liquidation of the Uniates here. In 1845, another great fire struck the city, resulting in further depopulation.

In 1850, three major forts were built around Lutsk, and the town became a small fortress calledMikhailogorod.During theFirst World War,the town was seized byAustria-Hungaryon 29 August 1915. The town sustained a small amount of damage. During more than a year of Austro-Hungarian occupation, Lutsk became an important military centre with the headquarters of the IV Army under ArchdukeJosef Ferdinandstationed there. A plague ofepidemic typhusdecimated the city's inhabitants.

On 4 June 1916, four Russian armies under generalAleksei Brusilovstarted what later became known as theBrusilov Offensive.After up to three days of heavy artillery barrage, theBattle of Lutskbegan. On 7 June 1916 the Russian forces reconquered the city. After the signing of theTreaty of Brest-Litovskin 1917, the city was seized by Germany on 7 February 1918. On 22 February 1918 the town was transferred by the withdrawing German army to the forces loyal toSymon Petlura.

Second Polish Republic

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During thePolish-Bolshevik War,on 16 May 1919, Lutsk was taken over by the forces of Poland'sBlue Armyafter a heavy battle with theRed Army.The city was devastated and largely depopulated. It witnessed the Soviet counter-offensive of 1920 and was taken on 12 July 1920. It was recaptured by Poland's 45th Rifles regiment and field artillery on 15 September 1920.[3]According to American sociologist Alexander Gella "the Polish victory [over the Red Army] had gained twenty years of independence not only for Poland but at least for an entire central part of Europe.[4]Łuck was designated by the newly-reborn nation ofPolandas the capital of theWołyń Voivodeship.

The city was connected by railroad toLviv(then Lwów) andPrzemyśl.Several brand new factories were built both in Łuck and on its outskirts producing farming equipment, wood, and leather products among other consumer goods. New mills andbreweriesopened. An orphanage was built, and a big new bursary. The first high school was soon inaugurated. In 1937, an airport was established in Łuck with an area of 69 hectares (170 acres).[3]

The 13thKresowyLight Artillery Regiment was stationed in the city, together with aŁuckNational Defense (Poland)Battalion. In 1938, construction of a large modern radio transmitter began in the city (seePolish Radio Łuck). As of 1 January 1939 Łuck had 39,000 inhabitants (approximately 17,500 Jews and 13,500 Poles). The powiat formed around the town had 316,970 inhabitants, including 59% Ukrainians, 19.5% Poles, 14% Jews and approximately 23,000CzechsandGermans.

World War II

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On Thursday 7 September 1939, at about 5 p.m., the Polish government, which had leftWarsawthe day before, arrived at Łuck. German intelligence quickly found out about it, and the city was twice bombed by theLuftwaffe,on 11 and 14 September. After panzer units of theWehrmachthad crossed theBug river,on 14 September the government of Poland left Łuck and headed southwards, toKosow Huculski,which at that time was located near the Polish–Romanian border.

As a result of theinvasion of Polandfrom both sides and theMolotov–Ribbentrop Pact,Łuck, along with the rest of western Volyn, was annexed by the Soviet Union. Most of the factories (including the almost-finished radio station) were dismantled and sent east to Russia. Approximately 10,000 of the city's Polish inhabitants (chiefly ethnic Poles, but alsoPolish Jews) were deported in cattle trucks toKazakhstanand 1,550 were arrested by theNKVD.[5][6]

After the start ofOperation Barbarossathe city was captured by theWehrmachton 25 June 1941.Thousands of Polish and Ukrainian prisoners were shotby the retreating NKVD responsible for political prisons. The inmates were offered amnesty and in the morning ofJune 23ordered to exit the building en masse. They were gunned down by Soviet tanks.[7]Some 4,000 captives including Poles, Jews and Ukrainians were massacred.[8]

Upon Nazi occupation, most of the Jewish inhabitants of the city were forced into a newŁuck Ghetto(German:Ghetto Luzk) and then murdered at the execution site on Górka Połonka hill not far from the city.[9]In total, more than 25,000 Jews were executed there at point-blank range,[10]men, women and children.[11]The Łuck Ghetto was liquidated entirely throughthe Holocaust by bullets.[12]During themassacres of Poles in Volhyniaapproximately 10,000 Poles were murdered by theUkrainian Insurgent Armyin the area. It was captured by theRed Armyon 2 February 1944.

Postwar

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After the end of the war, the remaining Polish inhabitants of the city were expelled, mostly to the areas that are sometimes referred to as the PolishRegained Territories.The city became an industrial centre in theUkrainian SSR.The major changes in the city's demographics had the final result that by the end of the war, the city was almost entirely Ukrainian. During theCold War,the city hosted theLutsk air base.

As one of the largest cities in Western Ukraine, Lutsk became the seat of the General Consulate of Poland in 2003.[13]

On 21 July 2020, ahostage crisistook place, involving a man armed with a firearm and explosives who stormed a bus and took 16 peoplehostageat about 9:25 a.m. Police said that they had identified the hostage-taker and that he had expressed dissatisfaction with "Ukraine's system" on social media.Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyysaid that shots gas had been heard and that the bus had been damaged. The incident led to police blocking off the city centre. The standoff was eventually resolved after several hours, with all of the hostages being freed and the hostage taker being arrested.[14][15][16]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

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On 11 March 2022, as part of theRussian invasion of Ukraine,the Russian army fired four missiles at Lutsk military airfield killing two Ukrainian servicemen and wounding six.[17]On 28 March, Lutsk was struck by another Russian missile.[18]

Population

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As of 1 January 2022, the population of the Lutsk city territorial community was 244,678 people, and 215,986 people in the city of Lutsk.

Language

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Distribution of the population by native language according to the2001 census:[19]

Language Number Percentage
Ukrainian 190 926 92.87%
Russian 13 958 6.79%
Other or undecided 701 0.34%
Total 205 585 100.00 %

According to a survey conducted by theInternational Republican Institutein April-May 2023, 98% of the city's population spoke Ukrainian at home, and 1% spoke Russian.[20]

Geography

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Climate

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Lutsk has ahumid continental climate(Dfbin theKöppen climate classification).

Climate data for Lutsk (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3) 		1.3
(34.3) 		6.7
(44.1) 		14.7
(58.5) 		20.4
(68.7) 		23.8
(74.8) 		25.6
(78.1) 		25.2
(77.4) 		19.4
(66.9) 		13.0
(55.4) 		6.1
(43.0) 		1.0
(33.8) 		13.1
(55.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.9
(26.8) 		−1.9
(28.6) 		2.3
(36.1) 		9.1
(48.4) 		14.4
(57.9) 		17.9
(64.2) 		19.7
(67.5) 		19.0
(66.2) 		13.8
(56.8) 		8.3
(46.9) 		3.1
(37.6) 		−1.4
(29.5) 		8.5
(47.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.3
(22.5) 		−4.6
(23.7) 		−1.2
(29.8) 		4.2
(39.6) 		9.1
(48.4) 		12.6
(54.7) 		14.5
(58.1) 		13.7
(56.7) 		9.3
(48.7) 		4.7
(40.5) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−3.7
(25.3) 		4.5
(40.1)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 30
(1.2) 		28
(1.1) 		31
(1.2) 		37
(1.5) 		64
(2.5) 		69
(2.7) 		93
(3.7) 		59
(2.3) 		54
(2.1) 		40
(1.6) 		35
(1.4) 		39
(1.5) 		579
(22.8)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) 7.9 8.2 7.3 7.5 9.0 8.9 10.0 7.4 7.6 7.3 7.7 9.4 98.2
Averagerelative humidity(%) 87.3 84.6 78.1 68.8 69.3 71.5 72.9 71.7 77.6 81.8 87.6 88.7 78.3
Source:NOAA[21]

Industry and commerce

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Lutsk is an important centre of industry. Factories producing cars, shoes,bearings,furniture,machines andelectronics,as well as weaveries, steel mills and achemical plantare located in the area.

  • VGP JSC– manufacture of sanitary and hygienic products
  • LuAZ– automobile-manufacturing plant, part ofBogdan group
  • SKF– manufacture of bearings, seals, lubrication and lubrication systems, maintenance products, mechatronics products, power transmission products and related services globally
  • Modern-Expo Group – one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of equipment (metal shelving, high racks systems,checkouts,cateringequipment,refrigerationequipment,POS-equipment andguidance systems) forretailandwarehouseuse inCentralandEastern Europe.
  • Lutsk is the capital of theDrupalweb development

Places of interest

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Lubart's Castle,1916
  • St. Peter and Paul Cathedral
    St. Peter and Paul Cathedral
  • The Great Synagogue in Lutsk
    The Great Synagogue in Lutsk
  • Holy Trinity Cathedral
    Holy Trinity Cathedral
  • Lutsk railway station
    Lutsk railway station

Theatres and museums

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Volyn Regional Museum
  • Drama Theatre, built in 1939(uk)
  • Children's Puppet Theater
  • Museum of Regional Studies. Address: Shopena St. 20
  • Museum of Ukrainian army and ammunition opened in 1999. Address: Lutsk, vul. Taborishi 4
  • Museum of Volyn Icon was opened in August 1993. A relatively small museum in the centre of the town. Has some interesting and very old icons. Address: vul. Yaroshchuka 5. (behind the Lesia Ukrainka Volyn State University)
  • THE KORSAKS’ MUSEUM OF THE CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN ART".Address: vul. Karbysheva 1

Religion

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The city was theepiscopal seatof theEparchy of Lutsk–Ostrohin theRuthenian Uniate Church.The city was also the centre of the short-livedUkrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Volhynia, Polesia and Pidliashia.Currently, it is the seat of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Lutskand of theExarchate of Lutskin theUkrainian Greek Catholic Church.In theOrthodox Church of Ukraine,the former Catholiccathedralof theHoly Trinityis the seat of theEparchy of Volhynia.

Notable people

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Alojzy Feliński,1862
Svetlana Zakharova,2015

Sport

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[edit]

The NKVD and Nazi massacres are mentioned in thePrix Goncourtawarded novelThe Kindly OnesbyJonathan Littell.

Lutsk is a location taken over by post-apocalyptic slavers in the sci-fi/adventure novelThe Crisis Pendantby Charlie Patterson.

Twin towns – sister cities

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See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Ukraine

Lutsk istwinnedwith:[22]

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  • Volyn's regional administration in Lutsk
    Volyn's regional administration in Lutsk
  • Kafedralna street
    Kafedralna street
  • Modern architecture
    Modern architecture
  • Dominican monastery
    Dominican monastery
  • Orthodox Fellowship building
    Orthodox Fellowship building
  • Daniel of Galicia street
    Daniel of Galicia street
  • Lesya Ukrainka street
    Lesya Ukrainka street

References

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  1. ^abЧисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2022[Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2022](PDF)(in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv:State Statistics Service of Ukraine.Archived(PDF)from the original on 4 July 2022.
  2. ^Beider, Alexander (2012)."Eastern Yiddish Toponyms of German Origin"(PDF).Yiddish Studies Today.ISBN 978-3-943460-09-4, ISSN 2194-8879 (düsseldorf university press, Düsseldorf 2012).Retrieved26 December2023.
  3. ^abAntoni Tomczyk (2013)."Łuck - Miasto bliskie sercom naszym".Kresowe Stanice.Stowarzyszenie Rodzin Osadników Wojskowych i Cywilnych Kresów Wschodnich.Retrieved18 June2013.
  4. ^Aleksander Gella (1988),Development of Class Structure in Eastern Europe: Poland and Her Southern Neighbors,SUNY Press,ISBN978-0-88706-833-1,Google Print, p. 23.
  5. ^Tadeusz Piotrowski (1998),Poland's Holocaust(Google Books). Jefferson: McFarland, pp. 17-18, 420.ISBN0-7864-0371-3.
  6. ^Feliks Trusiewicz,Zbrodnie – Ludobójstwo dokonane na ludności polskiej w powiecie Łuck, woj. wołyńskie, w latach 1939-1944.(War crimes committed against Polish nationals in the Łuck county, 1939–44). Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  7. ^Berkhoff, Karel Cornelis (2004).Harvest of Despair.Harvard University Press. p. 14.ISBN0674020782.Retrieved22 July2015.
  8. ^Piotrowski 1998, p. 17;The Murder of the Jews of LutskatYad Vashemwebsite
  9. ^Andrzej Mielcarek,Wieś i kolonia Hnidawa, inaczej Gnidawa, powiat Łuck;Gromada Połonka.Interactive 1936 map included.Strony o WołyniuWolyn.ovh.org in Polish. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  10. ^Yad Vashem,Mass-murder of Łuck Jews at Gurka Polonka in August 1942onYouTubeNote: village Połonka (Polish:Górka Połonkaor itsPołonka Little Hillsubdivision) is misspelt in the documentary, with the testimony of eyewitnessShmuel Shilo.Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  11. ^YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe,Lutsk.Ghetto history. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  12. ^"The Holocaust by bullets" by National Geographic ChannelonYouTubeRetrieved 20 July 2015.
  13. ^ General Consulate of Poland in Lutsk(Polish and Ukrainian)
  14. ^"Police: Armed man holding some 20 people hostage in Ukraine".Associated Press. 21 July 2020.Retrieved21 July2020.
  15. ^"Shots heard as bus passengers taken hostage in western Ukraine".Reuters. 21 July 2020.Retrieved21 July2020.
  16. ^"Ukraine hostage crisis: Police in Lutsk end stand-off".BBC News.21 July 2020.Retrieved21 July2020.
  17. ^ukrinform.net2 killed 6 wounded in the attack on an airfield in Lutsk
  18. ^Sangal, Aditi; Caldwell, Travis; Regan, Helen; Woodyatt, Amy; Chowdhury, Maureen; Kurts, Jason; Snowdon, Kathryn (28 March 2022)."It's 2 p.m. in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know".CNN.No. 28 March 2022 Russia-Ukraine Notices. p. 1.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2022.Retrieved15 April2022.{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  19. ^"Рідні мови в об'єднаних територіальних громадах України"(in Ukrainian).
  20. ^"Municipal Survey 2023"(PDF).ratinggroup.ua.Retrieved7 August2023.
  21. ^"World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Lutsk".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Retrieved16 June2024.
  22. ^"Побратими Луцька".lutskrada.gov.ua(in Ukrainian). Lutsk.Retrieved31 March2020.
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