Chornomorsk

Chornomorsk (Ukrainian: Чорноморськ), formerly Illichivsk (Ukrainian: Іллічі́вськ, translit. Illichivs'k, Russian: Ильичёвск, Ilyichyovsk) is a city in the Odessa Oblast (province) of south-western Ukraine, dependent on the Port of Chornomorsk. The city is located around the Sukhyi Estuary.

Geography

Chornomorsk is situated on the coast of the Black Sea, 12 miles (20 km) south from Odessa.

Administrative status

Chornomorsk is a city of regional significance within the Odessa Oblast.

History

Illichivsk as a city was built in 1952 around the port, incorporating surrounding small settlements (dating back to 18th century). Named after Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the city was designed to become a new home for the Black Sea Shipping Company (then the largest passenger and commercial vessel operator in the world which declared bankruptcy in early 1990s). Originally a builder's trailer village, Illichivsk has expanded to become Ukraine's most prosperous town (by income per capita). Residents are mostly employed by the port (one of the largest ports of Europe) and the maritime industry. Residents of Odessa have recently begun relocating to lower-cost but higher-income Illichivsk.