Lipetsk

Lipetsk (Russian: Ли́пецк, IPA: [ˈlʲipʲɪtsk]), also romanized as Lipeck, is a city and the administrative center of Lipetsk Oblast, Russia, located on the banks of the Voronezh River in the Don basin, 438 kilometers (272 mi) southeast of Moscow. Population: 496,403 (2021 Census); 508,887 (2010 Russian census); 506,114 (2002 Census); 449,635 (1989 Soviet census).

History

Lipetsk was first mentioned in the 13th century chronicles. The name means "Linden city" and is cognate with Leipzig and Liepāja. In 1284, the city was destroyed by the Mongols.

The foundation of the modern city dates back to 1703, when Peter the Great ordered construction of a cast iron factory in Lipetsk near the iron ore deposits for making artillery shells. On September 27, 1779, Lipetsk was granted town status. It became one of the principal towns of Tambov Governorate.

In 1879, Lipetsk hosted a congress of members of Land and Liberty.

After the Treaty of Rapallo (1922) until 1933, the much-reduced German Army (Reichswehr) of the Weimar Republic secretly contracted with Soviet authorities to operate a clandestine military aviation base and test facility near Lipetsk – circumventing prohibitions of the Versailles Treaty. The base enabled technical collaboration by the two powers whose separate defeats in World War I left them isolated in post-war Europe. This activity inside the U.S.S.R. took place away from the vigilant eyes of the victors. The Abwehr, The SS and German Army Group Centre penetrated part of this Lindenstadt Region in 1941–2.

Administrative and municipal status

Lipetsk is the administrative center of the oblast and, within the framework of administrative divisions, it also serves as the administrative center of Lipetsky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as Lipetsk City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with a status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, Lipetsk City Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as Lipetsk Urban Okrug.

Economy

The principal industries of Lipetsk include ferrous metallurgy, machinery, metalworking, machine tools, engines, chemicals, food, and clothing.

The former steel combine was privatized in 1992 and Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) with approximately 48,000 employees and a 64% export ratio (2005) is one of the largest employers in the oblast. In 2008, the company's revenue was $11.7 billion. Other industry are another metallurgical plant "Svobodny Sokol" ("Free Falcon"), a tractor factory LTZ, solvent-extraction plant Liboil (largest rapeseed oil producer in Central Federal District and the second in Russia), pipe factory, a factory for refrigerators and household appliances, an ice factory, lathe factory, chemical factories, etc. Industry is mainly located south of the Voronezh River.

Transportation

Since 1868, there is a railway connection between Lipetsk and Moscow. Trams, trolleybuses and buses provide local public transportation. The municipality aspires to renovate the tramway network as it is largely segregated from motor traffic. It has negotiated a 10-year, RUR 30 billion loan from the European Bank of Reconstruction & Development for tramway renewal.

Health care

Lipetsk is one of the oldest mud bath and balneological resorts in Russia (first opened in 1805). Peat mud and chalybeate bicarbonate calcic springs are used to treat patients. Sulphate and chloride sodium water is used for therapeutic baths and drinking.

Education

Lipetsk is home of the Lipetsk State Technical University, Lipetsk State Pedagogical University, and some other colleges.

Military

At the Lipetsk Air Base north of the town, the 4th Center of Combat Application and Conversion of Frontline Aviation named after Valery Chkalov is situated in Lipetsk.

The Lipetsk Air Center's chief, colonel Kharchevsky, has become famous after trial air combats in the United States and being a personal pilot of President Putin.

The city is also served by the smaller Lipetsk Airport.

On 24 February 2024, Ukraine claimed that its drones set fire to the Novolipetsk steel plant in Lipetsk. No casualties were reported however the facility was evacuated.

Twin towns and sister cities

Lipetsk is twinned with:

Notable people

• Andrei Gheorghe
• Yuri Gladkikh
• Viktor Kukin
• Dmitry Kulikov
• Alexandre Naoumenko
• Dmitri Shershnev
• Eugene Smurgis
• Maria Viktorovna

References

Notes

Sources

• Липецкий городской Совет депутатов. Решение №990 от 24 февраля 2015 г. «Устав городского округа город Липецк Липецкой области Российской Федерации», в ред. Решения №116 от 26 апреля 2016 г «О внесении изменений в Устав городского округа город Липецк Липецкой области Российской Федерации». Вступил в силу 21 марта 2015 г. (за исключением отдельных положений). Опубликован: "Липецкая газета", №55, 21 марта 2015 г. (Lipetsk City Council of Deputies. Decision #990 of February 24, 2015 Charter of the Urban Okrug of the City of Lipetsk of Lipetsk Oblast of the Russian Federation, as amended by the Decision #116 of April 26, 2016 On Amending the Charter of the Urban Okrug of the City of Lipetsk of Lipetsk Oblast of the Russian Federation. Effective as of March 21, 2015 (with the exception of certain clauses).).
• Липецкий областной Совет депутатов. Закон №382-ОЗ от 28 апреля 2010 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Липецкой области и порядке его изменения», в ред. Закона №343-ОЗ от 5 декабря 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Законы Липецкой области в связи с объединением сельских поселений Добринский сельсовет и Сафоновский сельсовет Добринского муниципального района Липецкой области». Вступил в силу по истечении 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Липецкая газета", №88, 7 мая 2010 г. (Lipetsk Oblast Council of Deputies. Law #382-OZ of April 28, 2010 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Lipetsk Oblast and on the Procedures for Its Change, as amended by the Law #343-OZ of December 5, 2014 On Amending Various Laws of Lipetsk Oblast Due to the Merger of the Rural Settlements of Dobrinsky Selsoviet and Safonovsky Selsoviet in Dobrinsky Municipal District of Lipetsk Oblast. Effective as of the day which is 10 days after the day of the official publication.).
• Липецкий областной Совет депутатов. Закон №114-ОЗ от 2 июля 2004 г. «О наделении муниципальных образований в Липецкой области статусом городского округа, муниципального района, городского и сельского поселения», в ред. Закона №343-ОЗ от 5 декабря 2014 г. «О внесении изменений в некоторые Законы Липецкой области в связи с объединением сельских поселений Добринский сельсовет и Сафоновский сельсовет Добринского муниципального района Липецкой области». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Липецкая газета", №131, 8 июля 2004 г. (Lipetsk Oblast Council of Deputies. Law #536-OZ of August 18, 2011 On Granting Urban Okrug, Municipal District, Urban and Rural Settlement Status to the Municipal Formations of Lipetsk Oblast, as amended by the Law #343-OZ of December 5, 2014 On Amending Various Laws of Lipetsk Oblast Due to the Merger of the Rural Settlements of Dobrinsky Selsoviet and Safonovsky Selsoviet in Dobrinsky Municipal District of Lipetsk Oblast. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).

External links

• Media related to Lipetsk at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (in Russian)
• Unofficial website of Lipetsk (in Russian)
• Lipetsk news (in Russian)
• Website of Lipetsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry