Vinnytsia

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Vinnytsia (Вінниця, pre-Soviet: Vynnytsia, Винница, translit. Vinnitsa; also referred to as Vinnytsya or Vinnica, Winnica) is a city located on the banks of the Southern Buh River river, in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Vinnytsia Oblast (province), as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Vinnytsky Raion (district) within the oblast. The city itself is also designated as its own separate raion within the oblast, and rests in the historic region of Podillia.

The current estimated population is 332,400 (as of 2004).

Since the end of World War II, Vinnytsia has been the home for a major Air force base, including an airfield, a hospital, arsenals, and other military installations. The Ukrainian Air Force Command has been based in Vinnytsia since 1992.

Geography

Vinnytsia is located about from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev (Kyiv), from the port city - Odessa (Odesa), and from Lviv.

Climate

A long lasting warm summer with a sufficient quantity of moisture and a comparatively short winter is characteristic of Vinnytsia. The average temperature in January is -5.8 °C and 18.3 °C in July. The average annually percipitation is 638 mm.

Throughout the year, 6-9 days per year include snowstorms, 37-60 days of the year include mists during the cold period, and 3-5 days per of the year include thunder storms with hail.

History

Vinnytsia was an important trade and political center of note since as early as the sixteenth century. More specifically, the city played a significant role during Cossack wars as well as during World War II. Great Purge victims' graves were exhumed by the Germans in 1943.

Adolf Hitler sited his easternmost headquarters FHQ Wehrwolf near the town and spent a number of weeks there in 1942 and early 1943. See also photograph "The Last Jew in Vinnitsa" in the article Einsatzgruppen.

Constructions

TV Tower Vinnytsia
Baptist Church -- Vinnytsia is home to what is reportedly one of the largest Evangelical Church Buildings in all of Europe.
Afghan War Museum and Slavic War Memorial Park -- The Afghan War Museum is located in the red-brick bell tower. Exhibits include photos, letters and other artifacts representing Vinnytsa soldiers who fought in that war. The Memorial Park contains a large statue representing three different soldiers from WWII. An eternal flame burns in front of the statue.

Famous people from Vinnytsia

Alexander Lerner - Soviet-Israeli cybernetic and dissident.
Mykhailo Kotsybyns’ky - Ukrainian author of novels and short stories. His home is a museum.
Nikolai Pirogov - famous Russian doctor who retired here. His home is a museum and his chapel tomb is open to visitors.
Pavlo Khnykin - famous freestyle swimmer. He won two silver medals in the men's 4x100m freestyle and 4x100 m medley relays at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Twin towns

Kielce, Poland
Peterborough, United Kingdom
Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
Iaşi, Romania
Rybnitsa, Moldova
Bursa, Turkey

External links

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Last updated on Sunday February 24, 2008 at 16:16:24 PST (GMT -0800)
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