Ochakiv

Ochakiv also known as Ochakov (Ukrainian: Очаків, Russian: Очаков, Crimean Tatar: Özü, Turkish: Özi, Romanian: Oceacov), Vozia (in Romanian), and Alektor (Ἀλέκτορος in Greek) is a small city in Mykolaiv Oblast (province) of southern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Ochakiv Raion (district), the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast, a city of regional importance.

For many years the city-fortress served as a capital of the Ottoman province (eyalet).

History

Establishment and name etymology

The land, where the Ochakov is located, was inhabited by Thracians and Schytians in ancient times. It was known as a part of Great (European) Schythia. In the 7th and 6th centuries BC, Greek colonists had founded a commercial colony near the Thracian coast city and the town was named Alektor. Archaeological excavations also point to the fact that previously in the near proximity of the area existed the old Milesian (ancient Greek) colony of Pontic Olbia; it is supposed that the same Greek expeditions settled Alektor.