Sumy

Sumy (Ukrainian: Суми [ˈsumɪ], Russian: Сумы) is a city in north-eastern Ukraine, and the capital of the Sumy Oblast (region). As of 2015, the city's population is 269,000. Private planes are served by Sumy Airport.

History

Sumy was founded in 1652 at the bank of the Psel River (a left tributary of the Dnieper) as a Cossack fortress. It was intended to protect Sloboda Ukraine from the Crimean Tatar attacks. After their attacks ceased and the territory was incorporated into the Russian Empire, Sumy evolved into an important economical centre, mainly focusing on sugar industry.

During the German occupation of Ukraine during World War II (1941 – 1944), Sumy sustained heavy damage. Sumy itself was occupied from October 10, 1941 to September 2, 1943. After the war, the destroyed parts of the city were built anew. Sumy has been a twin town of Celle, Germany since January 17, 1990.

The city formerly was divided into two urban raions (districts), Zarichny and Kovpakovsky, as well as 13 micro-raions. The first were dissolved in 2006.