the city you will fall in love with
Cherkasy
Cherkasy is a city, regional and district center in Ukraine, the center of the Cherkasy urban community, the industrial center of the Central Economic District, an important cultural and educational center.
Lovely Cherkasy, blooming Cherkasy,
City of great hopes and kindness,
The region of Shevchenko is beautifully сolored,
A strange pearl on the our Dnipro.
City of great hopes and kindness,
The region of Shevchenko is beautifully сolored,
A strange pearl on the our Dnipro.
Mykola Vereshchaka
"Song about Cherkasy"
Location
Cherkasy is located on the right bank of the Kremenchug Reservoir, created in the middle course of the Dnieper.
Administratively, the city is divided into 2 urban districts — Prydniprovskyi and Sosnivskyi, the latter also includes the village of Orshanets.
The population of the city is 269,836 people (January 1, 2022).
Administratively, the city is divided into 2 urban districts — Prydniprovskyi and Sosnivskyi, the latter also includes the village of Orshanets.
The population of the city is 269,836 people (January 1, 2022).
Alexander glushenko
History
From ancient times to the foundation of the city
There are still many little-studied pages in the history of Cherkasy.
A significant influence on the modern understanding of the historical development of the city and the region has the fact that it was mainly formed by Russian, and therefore completely Soviet historiography, due to which some periods of the city's history remain unexplained, some documents remain silent, or are still distorted.
And although little is known about the beginnings of Cherkasy, the fact of the existence and growth of the city already in the 14th century and its subsequent transformation into a significant center of the Cossack region (Cherkasy was the center of Cossack regiments from 1625 to 1687) is certain, hence the participation of the city community in all important events of Cossack history Ukraine — from Khmelnych region to Koliiv region.
On the territory of Cherkasy in the first half of 1664, battles were fought between the Cossacks of the Right-Bank Hetman Pavlo Teteri and Polish units with the Left-Bank Cossacks under the command of Hetman Ivan Bryukhovetskyi and Moscow troops.
The importance of the city as a Cossack center was so important that for some time Cherkasy was the ethnonym of all Ukrainians.
The economic rise and Ukrainian cultural life in Cherkasy in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries is also indisputable. Neither the brutal social experiments of the first decades of Soviet rule nor the burden of the Second World War escaped the city.
According to the stories of the old residents of the city, the Soviet authorities removed from the territory of Cherkasy and the Cherkasy region many jewels of the Cossack era, which have both great material and historical value.
The fact that since 1954 the city became the administrative center of the "youngest" region of the state was decisive for the reconstruction and further development of Cherkasy.
A significant influence on the modern understanding of the historical development of the city and the region has the fact that it was mainly formed by Russian, and therefore completely Soviet historiography, due to which some periods of the city's history remain unexplained, some documents remain silent, or are still distorted.
And although little is known about the beginnings of Cherkasy, the fact of the existence and growth of the city already in the 14th century and its subsequent transformation into a significant center of the Cossack region (Cherkasy was the center of Cossack regiments from 1625 to 1687) is certain, hence the participation of the city community in all important events of Cossack history Ukraine — from Khmelnych region to Koliiv region.
On the territory of Cherkasy in the first half of 1664, battles were fought between the Cossacks of the Right-Bank Hetman Pavlo Teteri and Polish units with the Left-Bank Cossacks under the command of Hetman Ivan Bryukhovetskyi and Moscow troops.
The importance of the city as a Cossack center was so important that for some time Cherkasy was the ethnonym of all Ukrainians.
The economic rise and Ukrainian cultural life in Cherkasy in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries is also indisputable. Neither the brutal social experiments of the first decades of Soviet rule nor the burden of the Second World War escaped the city.
According to the stories of the old residents of the city, the Soviet authorities removed from the territory of Cherkasy and the Cherkasy region many jewels of the Cossack era, which have both great material and historical value.
The fact that since 1954 the city became the administrative center of the "youngest" region of the state was decisive for the reconstruction and further development of Cherkasy.
The territory of the modern city as a place of residence for people has been known for a long time. Thus, it was in the zone of stable population and economic activity of primitive man already in the late Paleolithic (40–10 thousand years ago).
22 archaeological sites were discovered here: settlements of the Mesolithic era, finds of the Neolithic era, two groups of barrows with 9 mounds, a settlement and burial ground of the Bronze Age, four hillforts and seven settlements of the Zarubinets culture, two settlements and a burial ground of the Chernyakhov culture, two settlements of early Slavs, a hillfort of the 13th–14th centuries, a settlement and two hillforts of the 14th–17th centuries, and others. Two of them are of national importance. Several of these monuments have been studied by archaeologists.
The most ancient of them are dated to 1-2 millennia BC. A total of 4 ancient settlements were discovered on the territory of the city. Part of the city is flooded by the waters of the Kremenchug Reservoir, which makes it impossible to study the most ancient part of the city, located on the banks of the Dnieper.
Fierce discussions and controversies continue to this day regarding the emergence of a permanent historical settlement and the founding of Cherkasy itself.
The fact remains that Cherkasy has been known as a permanent settlement since at least the end of the 13th century.
The well-known Western geographers of the late Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age, Herberstein and Boplan, considered Cherkasy to be a very ancient city. It is also noteworthy that when the Grand Duke Jagailo of Lithuania was recognized as the Polish king in 1386, 3 hetmanships were founded: Polish, Lithuanian, and Russian.
The last hetman was assigned the city of Cherkasy as his residence, which, therefore, could not be a newly created and/or small settlement.
22 archaeological sites were discovered here: settlements of the Mesolithic era, finds of the Neolithic era, two groups of barrows with 9 mounds, a settlement and burial ground of the Bronze Age, four hillforts and seven settlements of the Zarubinets culture, two settlements and a burial ground of the Chernyakhov culture, two settlements of early Slavs, a hillfort of the 13th–14th centuries, a settlement and two hillforts of the 14th–17th centuries, and others. Two of them are of national importance. Several of these monuments have been studied by archaeologists.
The most ancient of them are dated to 1-2 millennia BC. A total of 4 ancient settlements were discovered on the territory of the city. Part of the city is flooded by the waters of the Kremenchug Reservoir, which makes it impossible to study the most ancient part of the city, located on the banks of the Dnieper.
Fierce discussions and controversies continue to this day regarding the emergence of a permanent historical settlement and the founding of Cherkasy itself.
The fact remains that Cherkasy has been known as a permanent settlement since at least the end of the 13th century.
The well-known Western geographers of the late Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age, Herberstein and Boplan, considered Cherkasy to be a very ancient city. It is also noteworthy that when the Grand Duke Jagailo of Lithuania was recognized as the Polish king in 1386, 3 hetmanships were founded: Polish, Lithuanian, and Russian.
The last hetman was assigned the city of Cherkasy as his residence, which, therefore, could not be a newly created and/or small settlement.
The problem of the foundation of the city, the exact date of which is not known, was solved in different ways by different scientists at different times.
Most of them tend to believe that the settlement arose during the period of Kievan Rus, but with the direct participation of non-Slavic elements of the lower Dnieper, which is confirmed by historical data.
So, according to the researches of various scientists, the date of the foundation of Cherkasy can be attributed to three periods:
Most of them tend to believe that the settlement arose during the period of Kievan Rus, but with the direct participation of non-Slavic elements of the lower Dnieper, which is confirmed by historical data.
So, according to the researches of various scientists, the date of the foundation of Cherkasy can be attributed to three periods:
A number of researchers argue that Cherkasy was founded in the pre-Tatar era (before 1240); the settlement or city could have been founded by representatives of warlike tribes that went down in history under the general name of black hoods.
This is supported by the fact that Turks, Berendeis, Pechenegs, and other peoples neighboring Russia were called Cherkasy. This Turkic cavalry, according to the famous historian BD Grekov, in the 11th and 12th centuries, en masse below Kyiv, and during the time of Prince Volodymyr Monomakh (1116) they fought against the Polovtsy. It is likely that these tribes could have their main city, which the Kyivans called Cherkasy.
In this case, the Slavic component was already present at the founding of the city. This version is supported and developed by local historian Oleksandr Znoyko in the book "Myths of Kyiv Land and Ancient Events" (1989).
This is supported by the fact that Turks, Berendeis, Pechenegs, and other peoples neighboring Russia were called Cherkasy. This Turkic cavalry, according to the famous historian BD Grekov, in the 11th and 12th centuries, en masse below Kyiv, and during the time of Prince Volodymyr Monomakh (1116) they fought against the Polovtsy. It is likely that these tribes could have their main city, which the Kyivans called Cherkasy.
In this case, the Slavic component was already present at the founding of the city. This version is supported and developed by local historian Oleksandr Znoyko in the book "Myths of Kyiv Land and Ancient Events" (1989).
Some scientists attribute the formation of Cherkasy directly to the Mongol-Tatar era.
An extract from the "Statistical Description of the Kyiv Province" (1852) became almost classic, according to which:
An extract from the "Statistical Description of the Kyiv Province" (1852) became almost classic, according to which:
“
Baskak Ahmet, who ruled in the Lipetsk principality, created two settlements near Rylsk, where robbers of various stripes flocked to rob the surrounding settlements. Prince Oleg, who was a descendant of the ancient lords of Chernihiv, complained about that to Khan Telebug, and he, giving him a detachment of Mongols, ordered the slobos to be destroyed, which was done... The inhabitants of Akhmetov slobos were Cherkasy and were called Cossacks ["free people"], they fled to Baskak in Kaniv and built the town of Cherkask. If this report is correct, then the foundation of Cherkasy, which was previously called Cherkasy, should be attributed to approximately 1284.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Hetmanship Starting from the 1360s, a new period begins in the history of Cherkasy, associated with the city's entry into the Russo-Lithuanian principality. Since then, Cherkasy, as a part of the separate Kiev principality, which was autonomous at that time from the Lithuanian rulers, became an important outpost of the southern borders. Thus, in 1384, Cherkasy is mentioned as a fortified city on the southern outskirts, forming, together with Vinnytsia, Bratslav and Kanev, a line of defense against the Crimean Tatar attackers. The authors of "Ancient Poland" call Oleksandr Kmita the first governor of Cherkasy in 1434. Administratively, the city became the center of the eldership, which was managed by governors from the boyar-princely nobility appointed by the Prince of Kyiv (from 1471 - voivode), who later came to be called starosts. |
The role of Cherkasy, as an important stronghold against robber attacks by the Crimean Khanate, especially increased from the end of the 15th century. The residents had to fight against the Tatar troops more than once. In 1483, the city suffered the first, rather serious, attack of the Tatars from the hordes of Mengli-Girey, who devastated almost the entire Kyiv region, but did not take Cherkasy. After that, at the beginning of the 16th century, the Cherkasy fortress was significantly strengthened. In 1532, the city withstood a 30-day siege by the troops of the Crimean Khan Saadet-Herai.
Geographical and political conditions also influenced the internal life of Cherkasy. During this period, the city became one of the centers of patrimony and the formation of a new social state - the Cossacks.
"Life in the midst of the constant struggle with the Tatars, under the watchful eye of daily danger, formed brave, stubborn, hardy characters, contributed to the restoration of a special class of people, hardened by incessant struggle with the enemy, the Cossacks. This numerous already at the end of the 15th century. during the spring, summer, and autumn, the class lived in the steppe, on their "cares" - farms, on rivers and lakes, or on roads and transports, caught fish, killed all kinds of animals, did not pass by their Tatar enemies, attacking them at the right opportunity : sometimes robbed and destroyed Crimean Tatar, Ottoman and Muscovite trade caravans. For the winter, the Cossacks returned to the city and brought along with a lot of valuable booty the free spirit of the steppes, a protest against all enslavement..."
Andrii Yakovliv
Ukrainian exile scientist
Such conditions as external factors and internal social organization gave great importance to the Cherkassy Castle - therefore, they encouraged the central government to keep talented administrators here with certain, significantly expanded rights for the local population.
That is why in the period of the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th centuries, the positions of Cherkasy elders were held, with some exceptions, by prominent people of their time, including Prince Bohdan Glynskyi, Kmyta Oleksandrovich, Prince Vasyl Dashkevich, Andriy Nemyrovych, Ostafy Dashkevich, Vasyl Tyshkevich, Dmytro Vyshnevetskyi and others .
That is why in the period of the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th centuries, the positions of Cherkasy elders were held, with some exceptions, by prominent people of their time, including Prince Bohdan Glynskyi, Kmyta Oleksandrovich, Prince Vasyl Dashkevich, Andriy Nemyrovych, Ostafy Dashkevich, Vasyl Tyshkevich, Dmytro Vyshnevetskyi and others .
In 1514, the first Cherkasy elder was Ostafii Dashkevich, who before that was the elder of Kaniv. Thus, two neighboring cities - Kaniv and Cherkasy were united for a long time under the rule of one elder who usually lived in Cherkasy.
Under Ostafia Dashkevich, who managed the cities and successfully headed the Ukrainian border guard in the Middle Dnieper region, the city continued to be built up.
He also led several successful attacks-campaigns of the Cherkastians against the Crimean Tatars and the Ottomans, and in 1533 he submitted a project developed by him to protect the southern borders from Tatar invasions, in which he justified the need to build a fortification with a permanent guard behind the Dnieper rapids.
Dashkevich rallied many Cossacks around him, strengthened the role of Dnieper cities and towns as centers of the formation of Ukrainian Cossacks, ruling in Cherkasy and Kanev until his death in 1535.
And for two decades, O. Dashkovich's ideas were reflected in Zaporozhian Sich, which was organizationally started on the island of Mala Khortytsia by another Cherkasy elder, Dmytro Vyshnevetskyi.
In those times, Cherkasy was not only not detached from all-Ukrainian events, but actually became a kind of bridgehead for the settlement of freedom-loving Cossacks in the lower Dnieper. They always took part in attacks on the Crimean Tatars and Ottomans, in particular under the leadership of Ivan Pidkova. Already then, Cherkasy was connected by waterway not only with the lands adjacent to the Dnieper, but also with Volyn (via the Pripyat and its right tributaries). The center of city life was the Cherkasy Castle, built in 1549-1552 on the site of the old one.
Under Ostafia Dashkevich, who managed the cities and successfully headed the Ukrainian border guard in the Middle Dnieper region, the city continued to be built up.
He also led several successful attacks-campaigns of the Cherkastians against the Crimean Tatars and the Ottomans, and in 1533 he submitted a project developed by him to protect the southern borders from Tatar invasions, in which he justified the need to build a fortification with a permanent guard behind the Dnieper rapids.
Dashkevich rallied many Cossacks around him, strengthened the role of Dnieper cities and towns as centers of the formation of Ukrainian Cossacks, ruling in Cherkasy and Kanev until his death in 1535.
And for two decades, O. Dashkovich's ideas were reflected in Zaporozhian Sich, which was organizationally started on the island of Mala Khortytsia by another Cherkasy elder, Dmytro Vyshnevetskyi.
In those times, Cherkasy was not only not detached from all-Ukrainian events, but actually became a kind of bridgehead for the settlement of freedom-loving Cossacks in the lower Dnieper. They always took part in attacks on the Crimean Tatars and Ottomans, in particular under the leadership of Ivan Pidkova. Already then, Cherkasy was connected by waterway not only with the lands adjacent to the Dnieper, but also with Volyn (via the Pripyat and its right tributaries). The center of city life was the Cherkasy Castle, built in 1549-1552 on the site of the old one.
After the Union of Lublin in 1569, Cherkasy became part of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. From the name of the city around which the Cossacks settled, they generally began to be called Cherkassy. And in Moscow documents of the 16th and 17th centuries, all Ukrainians were already called Cherkassy. The Cherkasy Regiment, which was formed in 1625 as one of the registered Cossack regiments, occupies a special place in the history of the city. During the National Liberation War from 1648, it acquired the significance of an administrative-territorial unit (until 1686). At that time, the Cherkasy regiment was one of the most capable and numerous and participated in all the important battles of the Cossack army of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi.
The abolition of the nobility had a positive effect on the development of the city. Industrial enterprises are emerging. After the unsuccessful Battle of Berestetska for the Cossacks in 1651, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi was forced to sign an alliance treaty with the Muscovite Kingdom. The signing of this treaty was supposed to take place in the city of Cherkasy, but due to an attack by the nobility of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the diplomats urgently moved to nearby Pereyaslav, where the Pereyaslav Rada was held.
After the defeat of the national liberation movement, Cherkassy was for a long time under the rule of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where they moved under the Andrusiv Peace Treaty of 1667.
In 1679, by order of the Moscow authorities and Hetman I. Samoilovich, most of the population of Cherkasy was forcibly relocated to Left Bank Ukraine (the so-called Great Detachment).
In 1791, the city received Magdeburg rights, although there is a version that Cherkassy had such a privilege before. Then, at the beginning of the 19th century, the famous architect William Geste took up the planning of the city.
The abolition of the nobility had a positive effect on the development of the city. Industrial enterprises are emerging. After the unsuccessful Battle of Berestetska for the Cossacks in 1651, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi was forced to sign an alliance treaty with the Muscovite Kingdom. The signing of this treaty was supposed to take place in the city of Cherkasy, but due to an attack by the nobility of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the diplomats urgently moved to nearby Pereyaslav, where the Pereyaslav Rada was held.
After the defeat of the national liberation movement, Cherkassy was for a long time under the rule of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where they moved under the Andrusiv Peace Treaty of 1667.
In 1679, by order of the Moscow authorities and Hetman I. Samoilovich, most of the population of Cherkasy was forcibly relocated to Left Bank Ukraine (the so-called Great Detachment).
In 1791, the city received Magdeburg rights, although there is a version that Cherkassy had such a privilege before. Then, at the beginning of the 19th century, the famous architect William Geste took up the planning of the city.
Russian Empire
After the second division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1793, Cherkassy became part of the Russian Empire, becoming one of the district centers of the Voznesensk Viceroyalty.
In the second half of the 18th century, Old Believers (separatists) from all corners of the Russian Empire began to move to the city. They built 2 monasteries (women's and men's) and a parish church here. Since 1797, it has been a county town of the Kyiv province.
The second half of the 19th century saw the rapid economic rise of the city. In particular, after the completion of the railway in 1876, new industrial enterprises appeared. The wood processing, sugar (sugar factory built in 1854), tobacco (tobacco factory - 1878), metalworking, machine building, flour milling industries and trade gained significant development.
Up to 7 fairs were held in the city every year, and bazaars were held once a week. Cargo traffic at the pier on the Dnipro increased. Cherkasy became one of the main transshipment points for the wood that was transported from the northern regions of Ukraine.
The growth of the economy contributed to the development of the city itself. The construction of Cherkassy was carried out according to William Geste's plan of 1815, which provided for the creation of equal quarters with straight streets.
In the second half of the 18th century, Old Believers (separatists) from all corners of the Russian Empire began to move to the city. They built 2 monasteries (women's and men's) and a parish church here. Since 1797, it has been a county town of the Kyiv province.
The second half of the 19th century saw the rapid economic rise of the city. In particular, after the completion of the railway in 1876, new industrial enterprises appeared. The wood processing, sugar (sugar factory built in 1854), tobacco (tobacco factory - 1878), metalworking, machine building, flour milling industries and trade gained significant development.
Up to 7 fairs were held in the city every year, and bazaars were held once a week. Cargo traffic at the pier on the Dnipro increased. Cherkasy became one of the main transshipment points for the wood that was transported from the northern regions of Ukraine.
The growth of the economy contributed to the development of the city itself. The construction of Cherkassy was carried out according to William Geste's plan of 1815, which provided for the creation of equal quarters with straight streets.
The Ukrainian revolution
In 1917, the October Revolution took place in Petrograd. A year later, the Bolshevik wave reached Cherkasy. T. G. Nesterenko was elected a delegate from the city to the First All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets. In the course of the Ukrainian revolution, the territory of Cherkasy became part of Cherkasy land, proclaimed by the III Universal of the Ukrainian People's Republic as the Zemstvo center of the administrative-territorial unit Cherkasy land. During the First Soviet-Ukrainian War, he finds himself in the war zone.
On January 6, 1918, Kudynskyi's Red Squad, which arrived from Russia, having broken through the Ukrainian defenses at the Khutir Mykhailivskyi border station, entered Chernihiv Oblast. Kudynskyi's detachment was assigned the task of breaking through Cherkasy on the Right Bank of Ukraine and exiting to Kyiv from the south of Fastov, but the task was not completed.
On January 28, the "Moscow Revolutionary Squad" (part of Muravyov's troops), advancing along the railway from Hrebinka, captured Cherkasy and entered the rear of the Ukrainian People's Republic.
But on March 12, the city was de-occupied by the Ukrainian authorities in the course of a counteroffensive. With the formation of the Ukrainian State headed by Pavel Skoropadskyi, it became part of the Kyiv province. In the course of the Second Soviet-Ukrainian War, it finally comes under the control of the Bolsheviks.
On January 16, 1918, Cherkasy was occupied by the Bolsheviks, and on January 18, a local Council of Workers', Soldiers', and Peasants' Deputies was created. At the end of January, the Revolutionary Committee headed by Zolotaryov was created. In the spring, the troops of the Ukrainian State of Hetman Skoropadsky establish their control over the city. In January 1919, Bolshevik occupation was again established in the city, but in May, power passed to Grigoriev's army. Many Bolsheviks were shot, including F. N. Ilyin and S. G. Verbovetskyi. During the First Liberation Struggle, the city changed hands more than 10 times, was shelled and destroyed, and several thousand residents became victims of battles and terror.
On January 6, 1918, Kudynskyi's Red Squad, which arrived from Russia, having broken through the Ukrainian defenses at the Khutir Mykhailivskyi border station, entered Chernihiv Oblast. Kudynskyi's detachment was assigned the task of breaking through Cherkasy on the Right Bank of Ukraine and exiting to Kyiv from the south of Fastov, but the task was not completed.
On January 28, the "Moscow Revolutionary Squad" (part of Muravyov's troops), advancing along the railway from Hrebinka, captured Cherkasy and entered the rear of the Ukrainian People's Republic.
But on March 12, the city was de-occupied by the Ukrainian authorities in the course of a counteroffensive. With the formation of the Ukrainian State headed by Pavel Skoropadskyi, it became part of the Kyiv province. In the course of the Second Soviet-Ukrainian War, it finally comes under the control of the Bolsheviks.
On January 16, 1918, Cherkasy was occupied by the Bolsheviks, and on January 18, a local Council of Workers', Soldiers', and Peasants' Deputies was created. At the end of January, the Revolutionary Committee headed by Zolotaryov was created. In the spring, the troops of the Ukrainian State of Hetman Skoropadsky establish their control over the city. In January 1919, Bolshevik occupation was again established in the city, but in May, power passed to Grigoriev's army. Many Bolsheviks were shot, including F. N. Ilyin and S. G. Verbovetskyi. During the First Liberation Struggle, the city changed hands more than 10 times, was shelled and destroyed, and several thousand residents became victims of battles and terror.
Soviet period
Early USSR
On January 1, 1920, Cherkasy finally came under Soviet occupation. In 1923, they became the center of Cherkassy, and from 1927 - Shevchenkivsky district and district. After the liquidation of districts in 1930, the city remained the center of the district, which since 1932 was part of the Kyiv region. Like all cities and villages of the region, Cherkasy survived the Holodomor of 1932-1933 and Stalinist repressions.
Second World War
The Second World War caused considerable damage and irreparable losses to the city. On June 22, German planes bombed the city. The railway station and bridges over the Dnipro were destroyed. In August 1941, German troops approached the city. An SS infantry division, Romanian and Italian units, a motorcyclist battalion, and tank units were rushed to capture Cherkasy.
The Soviet 196th and 116th Rifle and 212th Motorized Divisions repulsed the attack and organized an offensive along the Cherkasy-Smila highway, driving the Germans to the village of Belozirya. On August 22, after the Red Army destroyed the bridges across the Dnieper, the Germans entered the city.
A partisan unit led by F. R. Savchenko operated in the Cherkasy forests, and in July-August 1943, underground sabotage groups were organized in the city. At the end of September, units of the Red Army approached the Dnipro. Forcing the river was entrusted to the 52nd Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front under the command of Lieutenant General K. A. Koroteev. On September 25, the 3rd and 5th airborne brigades were landed near the city and joined forces with the partisans. The forcing of the Dnipro began on November 13, the army was commanded by M.F. Vatutin. Already by the end of winter, Cherkasy came under Soviet control.
A partisan unit led by F. R. Savchenko operated in the Cherkasy forests, and in July-August 1943, underground sabotage groups were organized in the city. At the end of September, units of the Red Army approached the Dnipro. Forcing the river was entrusted to the 52nd Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front under the command of Lieutenant General K. A. Koroteev. On September 25, the 3rd and 5th airborne brigades were landed near the city and joined forces with the partisans. The forcing of the Dnipro began on November 13, the army was commanded by M.F. Vatutin. Already by the end of winter, Cherkasy came under Soviet control.
Post-war era
In the post-war years, the development of industry began, the development of the economy and the social and cultural sphere was resumed. Since 1954, the city has been the center of the newly created and youngest Cherkasy Oblast of the Ukrainian SSR. The leading industries of the regional center, which were formed during the existence of the region, were chemical, machine-building, instrument-making, processing and food. In 1958, the association "Cherkasyzalizobeton" was established as a factory for the production of reinforced concrete products, structures and building materials.
Over the years of its existence, the association developed various directions in the construction industry, which led to its reorganization into the "Dobrobud" Group of Companies. A powerful production base was created at the new enterprise, which made it possible to provide construction with both materials and structures, as well as vehicles and mechanisms. With the development of the chemical industry in the 1960s, Cherkasy gradually turned from a center of light industry into a chemical giant. In 1961, the largest plant for the production of nitrogen fertilizers in Ukraine was built, after it "Khimvolokno" (the second largest after Chernihiv), "Khimreaktiv" (a plant of military importance) and several smaller ones were built. In 1961, with the construction of the Kremenchug HPP and the creation of the Kremenchug Reservoir, the longest dam in Ukraine with a bridge up to 15 km long was built across the newly created Cherkasy Sea. This turned Cherkasy into a significant transport hub.
Independent Ukraine
The end of the 20th — the beginning of the 21st century
After Ukraine gained independence, the urban economy is being reoriented. Thus, a number of factories stopped operating, in particular — the Cherkasy Sugar Refinery Plant (built at the end of the 19th century), the plant named after Petrovsky (better known as "Mashbud"), Cherkasy Woodworking Plant (DOK).
Although these enterprises were privatized, the new owners failed to adjust their work under new economic conditions and went bankrupt. A similar fate befell the once powerful enterprises of the military industry - "Impuls", "Pryladobudivny Zavod", "Zavod STO", "Photoprilad", "Radiozavod", which are currently (2010) in a state of inactivity and destruction. In the same period, the decline of the chemical industry began - "Khimvolokno" closed, "Khimreaktiv" greatly reduced its capacity. Currently (2015), only "Azot" of the chemical manufacturers in Cherkasy continues to work stably.
On the other hand, things went up at the factories where far-sighted businessmen joined the management and whose products proved to be necessary in the new economic conditions.
On the other hand, things went up at the factories where far-sighted businessmen joined the management and whose products proved to be necessary in the new economic conditions.
Thus, at the Rotor Enterprise, which was launched in the years of reconstruction, despite the difficult situation, bankruptcy, and the sale of the company's assets, the automotive industry began to develop intensively on its industrial site - in 2005, the first factory of the "Bohdan" Corporation was built for the assembly of passenger cars. And today (2010) there are 3 large factories of this corporation for the assembly of buses, cars and trucks (not working due to the crisis) and several enterprises directly related to automobile manufacturing in Cherkasy. Thus, Cherkasy turned from the "chemical giant" that the city became in Soviet times into the Ukrainian center of automobile manufacturing in modern times. Also, as before, several food and light industry enterprises operate in the city.
On November 28, 2008, a monument to V. I. Lenin was dismantled from the central square (in front of the building of the Cherkasy Regional State Administration) in the city, which was accompanied by the destruction of the sculpture, and caused an ambiguous reaction of the city's public.
During the years of Ukraine's independence, the architectural face of Cherkasy underwent changes - however, not all of the new buildings fit into the urban landscape that developed over the course of the 20th century.
The financial and economic crisis in Ukraine at the end of the 2000s had a strong impact on Cherkasy's economy - development trends changed to stagnant ones, which particularly affected the city's most successful industry - automobile manufacturing.
Russian-Ukrainian war
With the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022, the city was not on the front line or in the front-line zone, but was hit by cruise missiles of the Russian army. Thus, on June 26, the Cherkasy district was hit by two rockets, as a result of which 1 person died and 5 were injured, infrastructure was damaged.
On June 29, a citizen of the city was arrested, who provided the Russian occupiers, in particular the FSB special service, with information on the location of roadblocks and the coordinates of the bridge across the Dnipro for a monetary reward.
During the war, as of April, about 70,000 forced migrants temporarily moved to Cherkasy due to hostilities. Also, the Slavic Power Engineering Technical College was relocated to the city.
During the war, as of April, about 70,000 forced migrants temporarily moved to Cherkasy due to hostilities. Also, the Slavic Power Engineering Technical College was relocated to the city.
You always held securely and firmly
Cossack weapons from ancient times,
They bravely defended their land
From all scavenging, evil enemies. — "Song about Cherkasy"
— Mykola Vereshchaka
Cossack weapons from ancient times,
They bravely defended their land
From all scavenging, evil enemies. — "Song about Cherkasy"
— Mykola Vereshchaka
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The site was created by Alexander Glushenko
