Druzhkivka (Ukrainian: Дружківка, pronounced [drʊʒˈk⁽ʲ⁾iu̯kɐ] ; Russian: Дружковка, romanizedDruzhkovka) is a city in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. It was previously a city of regional significance before the status was abolished. Population: 53,977 (2022 estimate);[1] As of April 2024, the city's population was over 31,000.[2]

Druzhkivka
Дружківка
Flag of Druzhkivka
Official seal of Druzhkivka
Druzhkivka is located in Donetsk Oblast
Druzhkivka
Druzhkivka
Druzhkivka is located in Ukraine
Druzhkivka
Druzhkivka
Coordinates: 48°37′17″N 37°31′40″E / 48.62139°N 37.52778°E / 48.62139; 37.52778
Country Ukraine
OblastDonetsk Oblast
RaionKramatorsk Raion
HromadaDruzhkivka urban hromada
Founded1780s
Area
 • Total
34 km2 (13 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
53,977
Map

Druzhkivka is located near the confluence of the Kryvyi Torets and Kazennyi Torets rivers, about 80 km northeast of Donetsk.

History

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Historical records indicate that a settlement named Druzhkivka was established in this area by 1781. From the late 19th through the 20th century, Druzhkivka grew into a mid-size industrial city with several large factories producing mining equipment and machinery, hardware, kitchen stoves, china tableware and bricks, as well as several clay-extracting quarries in the city's vicinity.[citation needed] The economic collapse that resulted from the breakup of the Soviet Union resulted in the rapid decline of local industries, with factories closing or barely functioning—a condition that led to high unemployment and a population exodus. When the jobs disappeared, many of them moved away. The current population of less than 60,000 is well below the historical high of at least 80,000 during the mid-1980s. Currently, many residents work part-time in various other countries. However, since temporary foreign workers bring their incomes back home to spend, this has led to the rapid growth in the local services and retail industries. [citation needed]

During World War II, Druzhkivka was occupied by the German army from 22 October 1941, to 6 February 1943, and again from 9 February to 6 September 1943. During their occupation, the SS killed many local Jews. A witness from the village described the SS hanging Jews along the railway.[3]

During the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine the town was captured in mid-April 2014 by pro-Russian separatists.[4][5] The city was eventually recaptured by Ukrainian forces on 7 July 2014, along with Bakhmut.[6][7]

Demographics

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The population of Druzhkivka as of 1 June 2017 is 67 772 people.[8]

Ethnicity as of the Ukrainian Census of 2001:[9]

  • 48,302 Ukrainians (64.4%)
  • 24,122 Russians (32.2%)
  • 612 Armenians (0.8%)
  • 490 Belarusians (0.7%)
  • 216 Tatars (0.3%)

First language as of the 2001 census:[10]

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References

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  1. ^ Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2022 [Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2022] (PDF) (in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2022.
  2. ^ "До повномасштабного вторгнення у місті проживали 67 тисяч людей. На сьогодні — це понад 31 тисяча жителів", — повідомив керівник МВА".
  3. ^ "Yahad-In Unum Interactive Map". Execution Sites of Jewish Victims Investigated by Yahad-In Unum. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  4. ^ Ragozin, Leonid (16 April 2014). "Vladimir Putin Is Accidentally Bringing Eastern and Western Ukraine Together". The New Republic. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Donbass defenders put WWII tank back into service". en.itar-tass.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
  6. ^ "Rebels blamed as Ukraine bridges hit". BBC News. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Ukraine flag raised over two cities, military tells Poroshenko". en.interfax.com.ua. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Население Дружковки составляет 67722 человека" (tr. "The population of Druzhkovka is 67722 people") Дружковка на ладонях (Druzhkovka on the palms), 14 августа 2017
  9. ^ "Перепис населення Укра?ни (Нац?ональний склад та р?дна мова населення Донецько? област? ): Донецька область". donetskstat.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 2007-02-13. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  10. ^ "Офіційна сторінка Всеукраїнського перепису населенняy" [The official page of the All-Ukrainian population census]. www.ukrcensus.gov.ua. Retrieved 12 April 2018.