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Zhytomyr

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Zhytomyr is a major city located in the north of western Ukraine.

Житомир. Улица Киевская XIX век
Житомир. Улица Киевская XIX век

It serves as an important center for the surrounding region and district. The city is a vital hub for travel and transport. It sits on an old route that connects Kyiv with the west. Today, it links cities like Warsaw, Minsk, and Izmail.

Panorama-2008-05-20-teteriv
Panorama-2008-05-20-teteriv

The Teteriv River also flows through this busy area.

Many different industries keep the city's economy moving. Workers engage in lumber milling and food processing. The area is also known for granite quarrying and metalworking. Some people even manufacture musical instruments there.

P1160751 Центральний універмаг
P1160751 Центральний універмаг

The city is divided into two main urban districts. These are the Bohunskyi District and the Koroliovskyi District. The second district is named after Sergey Korolyov.

History tells us that many groups have shaped this place. Legend says Prince Jytomyr founded the town in 884. The first written records of the city date back to 1240. Over many centuries, the city changed hands many times. It was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland. In 1793, it passed to the Russian Empire. Later, it became part of the Soviet Union. Zhytomyr has been part of independent Ukraine since 1991.

Different cultures have left important marks on the city. Zhytomyr was once a major center for the Jewish community. It even had a famous rabbinical school.

Zhitomir Jewish Institute
Zhitomir Jewish Institute

The city is also home to a large Polish minority. It has a famous Latin Catholic cathedral.

There is also a large Roman Catholic Polish cemetery. It was founded in 1800 and is very large. It is the third biggest Polish cemetery outside of Poland.

The city has also faced very difficult and sad times. During the 1930s, the region suffered from a man-made famine called the Holodomor.

Svyato-Preobrajenskiy-Sobor cathedral in Zhytomyr during WWII
Svyato-Preobrajenskiy-Sobor cathedral in Zhytomyr during WWII

During World War II, the city was under Nazi German occupation. More recently, the city faced air and missile strikes in 2022.

Lyceum 25, Zhytomyr, after an airstrike during Russian invasion (5)
Lyceum 25, Zhytomyr, after an airstrike during Russian invasion (5)

These strikes damaged hospitals and residential buildings. Despite these hard moments, the people of Zhytomyr continue to live and work in their home.

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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:Курганна група на Мальованці.jpg
Курганна група на Мальованці.jpg
File:Житомир. Улица Киевская XIX век.jpg
Житомир. Улица Киевская XIX век.jpg
File:Svyato-Preobrajenskiy-Sobor cathedral in Zhytomyr during WWII.jpg
Svyato-Preobrajenskiy-Sobor cathedral in...
File:Lyceum 25, Zhytomyr, after an airstrike during Russian invasion (5).jpg
Lyceum 25, Zhytomyr, after an airstrike...
File:Кафедральний костел Святої Софії 1.jpg
Кафедральний костел Святої Софії 1.jpg
File:Вхідна брама до польського кладовища м.Житомир.jpg
Вхідна брама до польського кладовища м.Житомир.jpg
File:Zhitomir Jewish Institute.JPG
Zhitomir Jewish Institute.JPG
File:Міський театр (філармонія) P1160580.jpg
Міський театр (філармонія) P1160580.jpg
File:Panorama-2008-05-20-teteriv.jpg
Panorama-2008-05-20-teteriv.jpg
File:P1160751 Центральний універмаг.jpg
P1160751 Центральний універмаг.jpg
File:Zhitomir Pushkinskaya Street.JPG
Zhitomir Pushkinskaya Street.JPG
File:Zhytomyr Chudnivskiy bridge.jpg
Zhytomyr Chudnivskiy bridge.jpg

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