{{Short description|Russian-occupied city in Ukraine}} {{about|the city|the proclaimed Russian republic named after the city|Luhansk People's Republic|other uses|Luhansk (disambiguation)}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox settlement | name = | official_name = Luhansk | native_name = {{lang|uk|Луганськ}} | other_name = Lugansk | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 280 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 2/2/1 | image1 = East Spire House.jpg{{!}}Radianska Street | image2 = Музей истории Луганска.jpg{{!}}Museum of local history | image3 = Сквер памяти - panoramio (1).jpg{{!}}Memory Park | image4 = Луганський паротяг.jpg{{!}}Soviet locomotive class СО | image5 = Дом советов, Луганск.jpg{{!}}Luhansk Oblast Council | caption1 = Radianska Street | caption2 = Museum of local history | caption3 = Memory Park | caption4 = Luhanskteplovoz steam locomotive | caption5 = Luhansk Oblast Council }} | image_flag = Flag of Luhansk.svg | image_shield = Coat of arms of Luhansk.svg | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Ukraine | subdivision_type1 = Oblast | subdivision_name1 = Luhansk Oblast | subdivision_type3 = Raion | subdivision_name3 = Luhansk Raion | subdivision_type4 = Hromada | subdivision_name4 = Luhansk urban hromada | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1795 | leader_title = Mayor (LPR) | leader_name = {{ill|Yana Pashchenko|ru|Пащенко, Яна Валерьевна}} | area_total_km2 = 269.61 | area_metro_km2 = 2147 | population_as_of = 2022 | population_total = 397677 | population_metro = 527367 | population_density_km2 = auto | pushpin_map = Ukraine Luhansk Oblast#Ukraine#Europe | pushpin_label_position = left <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Luhansk | coordinates = {{coord|48|34|04|N|39|18|11|E|region:UA|display=inline,title}} | elevation_m = 117 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 291000-291060 | area_codes = +7 (857)<br />+7 (959) | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = Dfa | pushpin_relief = 1 | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | mapframe-wikidata = yes }} '''Luhansk''' ({{IPAc-en|uk|l|uː|ˈ|h|æ|n|s|k}}, {{IPAc-en|us|-|ˈ|h|ɑː|n|-}}; {{langx|uk|Луганськ}}, {{IPA|uk|lʊˈɦɑnʲsʲk|IPA|uk-Луганськ.ogg}}), also known as '''Lugansk''' ({{IPAc-en|uk|-|ˈ|ɡ|æ|n|-}}, {{IPAc-en|us|-|ˈ|ɡ|ɑː|n|-}}; {{langx|ru|Луганск}}, {{IPA|ru|lʊˈɡansk|IPA|audio=Ru-Луганск.ogg}}), is a city in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. As of 2022, the population was estimated to be {{Ua-pop-est2022|397,677|,}} making Luhansk the 12th-largest city in Ukraine.
Luhansk served as the administrative center of Luhansk Oblast, before pro-Russian separatists seized control of the city in 2014 and made it the capital of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic. The Ukrainian administration was located in Sievierodonetsk from 2014 to 2022 during the war in Donbas, due to Ukraine not being in control of Luhansk. Sievierodonetsk was captured by Russia in 2022 and Luhansk Oblast was later annexed by Russia in late 2022.
==Etymology==
The city was founded as a foundry in 1795–1796, following the decree of Empress Catherine II titled ''On the establishment of a foundry in the Donetsk uyezd by the Lugan River''. The settlement that developed around the plant was named '''Lugansk''', deriving its name from the hydronym Lugan, which itself originates from the Russian word ''lug'' (meadow). The settlement was granted city status in 1882.
In 1935, the city was renamed Voroshilovgrad in honor of the Soviet political and military figure Kliment Voroshilov. Following the adoption of a 1957 decree by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, which prohibited naming populated places after living political figures, the city's original name, Lugansk, was restored in 1958. However, in 1970, after Voroshilov's death, the city was once again renamed Voroshilovgrad. In 1990, the name Luhansk was reinstated.<ref>Pospelov, 2002, с. 247</ref>
==History== ===Founding and early history=== [[File:Gaskoin Karl. Lugansk.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Bust of Charles Gascoigne]] The city traces its history to 1797 when the British industrialist Charles Gascoigne, commissioned by the Imperial Russian government in 1795, founded an ammunition and cannon factory for the Black Sea Fleet.<ref name=IEU/> Gascoigne had emigrated to Saint Petersburg years earlier, and founded factories and mines across the Russian Empire during his time there. There is a prominent bust of him in Luhansk commemorating his role in the city's founding.<ref>{{cite news |date=2014-05-09|title=The surprising British origins of eastern Ukraine|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/05/09/the-surprising-british-origins-of-eastern-ukraine/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=2023-04-21}}</ref>
The factory was built in the Donets Basin (or Donbas) at the confluence of the Luhan and {{ill|Vilkhivka (river)|lt=Vilkhivka|uk|Вільхівка (річка)}} rivers. The Russian craftsmen settled upstream, at the settlement of Kamianyi Brid.<ref name=IEU>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CL%5CU%5CLuhansk.htm|encyclopedia=Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine|title=Luhansk|access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> The name "Luhansk" comes from the Luhan River, which flows through the city. According to folk etymology, the name is also derived to the word "Luh" (Ukrainian: Луг), which means "meadow", referring to the floodplains around the river.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
The factory was greatly expanded during the Napoleonic Wars, and again during the Crimean War. By 1880, the factory was a large industrial node, linked by rail to other major cities and to the Azov Sea. In 1882, the Luhansk Factory was merged with Kamianyi Brid into a new settlement named Luhansk, which received city status. In 1897, Luhansk had a population of 20,400, 68.2% of whom were Russians.<ref name=IEU/>
In summer 1896, German industrialist {{ill|Gustav Hartmann|de|Gustav Hartmann (Unternehmer)}} founded a locomotive-building company in Luhansk, which is now Luhanskteplovoz. It became operational in 1900, and soon produced a large proportion of all locomotives in the Russian Empire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukrssr.com.ua/lugan/viniknennya-i-rozvitok-mista-lugansk|title=ВИНИКНЕННЯ І РОЗВИТОК МІСТА ЛУГАНСЬК|access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>
{{stack|thumb|Luhansk before 1917}} Luhansk was economically devastated by the Ukrainian War of Independence. In April 1918, Luhansk was occupied by the Central Powers during their invasion of Ukraine, and passed to the Ukrainian State. Then, it was taken by Anton Denikin's anti-communist Volunteer Army in May 1919, before changing hands several times. It was finally taken by the Red Army in January 1920.<ref name=IEU/> Afterwards, it was administratively part of the Donets Governorate of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite map|author=С. Хургін|title=Адміністраційна Мапа Української Соц. Рад. Республіки|year=1922|scale=1:1,680,000|publisher=Народний комісаріат внутрішніх справ|location=Kharkiv|language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite map|author=С. Я. Хургин|title=Карта Украинской Социалистической Советской Республики|year=1921|scale=1:1,680,000|publisher=Народный комиссариат внутренних дел|language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite map|title=Административная карта Украины|year=1923|scale=1:1,050,000|publisher=Народный комиссариат внутренних дел|language=ru}}</ref>
===In the Soviet Union=== The city's economy was rebuilt,<ref name=restoration>{{cite web|url=https://ukrssr.com.ua/lugan/vidnovlennya-luganska-pislya-gromadyanskoyi-viyni|title=Відновлення луганська після громадянської війни|access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> and Luhansk grew rapidly during the interwar period.<ref name=IEU/> On 5 November 1935, the city was renamed '''Voroshilovgrad''' ({{langx|ru|Ворошиловград|Voroshilovgrad}}; {{langx|uk|Ворошиловград|Voroshylovhrad}}) in honour of Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov.<ref name=ThirtyFive/> In 1938, Voroshilovgrad Oblast was established, with the city as its center.<ref name=IEU/>
thumb|left|Luhansk in the 1920s The economic recovery and development of the city was also accompanied by significant demographic change. The population grew from 72,000 to 212,000 between 1926 and 1939, and there was an influx of Ukrainians from the countryside into the city. The proportion of Ukrainians grew from 19.1% to 58.7% between 1897 and 1939, many of whom were refugees fleeing the Holodomor, a manmade famine across Soviet Ukraine. The Russian proportion of the population shrank to 34.5%.<ref name=IEU/>
Voroshilovgrad became a frontline city in World War II after the failure of Nazi Germany's Operation Barbarossa to capture major Soviet cities.<ref name=GPW>{{cite web|url=https://ukrssr.com.ua/lugan/lugansk-u-roki-velikoyi-vitchiznyanoyi-viyni|access-date=16 September 2023|title=ЛУГАНСЬК У РОКИ ВЕЛИКОЇ ВІТЧИЗНЯНОЇ ВІЙНИ}}</ref> In March 1942, a grand concert featuring the work of Taras Shevchenko was held in the city to inspire Ukrainians to fight off the invading Nazis.<ref name=IEU/> In July 1942, Germany concentrated its forces in the area and forced the Soviets to retreat to the Volga and the North Caucasus. On 14 July 1942, German troops captured Voroshilovgrad. Locals waged partisan warfare against the occupation. The city was eventually liberated by the Red Army on 14 February 1943.<ref name=GPW/>
In the postwar period, the city was rebuilt. The population recovered and grew, again alongside demographic change. More Russians were brought in to rebuild and help with industrialization, again reducing the share of Ukrainians to a minority of 48.3% by 1959 and raising the share of Russians to 47.1%.<ref name=IEU/> On 5 March 1958, after Khrushchev's call to not name cities after living people, the old name of Luhansk was reinstated.<ref name=ThirtyFive>{{cite web|url=http://shusek.livejournal.com/32065.html |title=Записки из Якирова Посада – Луганск-Ворошиловград-Луганск |publisher=Shusek.livejournal.com |date=2 November 2009 |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> Kliment Voroshilov himself opposed the restoration of the old name in 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://militera.lib.ru/bio/hruschev_sn/01.html|script-title=ru:'Военная Литература' – Биографии – С.Н. Хрущёв|trans-title='Military Literature' – Biographies – S. N. Khrushchev|language=ru|publisher=Militera.lib.ru|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> In January 1970, after the death of Kliment Voroshilov on 2 December 1969, the city's name was changed again to Voroshilovgrad.<ref name=ThirtyFive/>
Demographic shifts continued during the late Soviet period; by 1989, Ukrainians made up 41.8% of the population and Russians had a majority of 52.4%.<ref name=IEU/> On 4 May 1990, a decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR gave the city back its original name.<ref name=ThirtyFive/>
===Ukrainian independence=== Ukraine gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1994, a consultative referendum took place in Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast, with around 90% supporting the Russian language gaining status of an official language alongside Ukrainian, and for the Russian language to be an official language on a regional level.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Flynn |first1=M. K. |title=Political mobilization in eastern Ukraine: The referendum of 1994 in the Donetsk oblast |journal=The European Legacy |date=1996 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=342–349 |doi=10.1080/10848779608579417 | issn = 1084-8770 }}</ref>
The previous demographic trends reversed in independent Ukraine; by 2001, Ukrainians—who increasingly spoke Russian—were 50% of the population and Russians made up 47%. The population as a whole began to decline as the economy stagnated, dropping from 505,000 in 1992 to 424,000 in 2014.<ref name=IEU/>
====Russo–Ukrainian War==== {{Further information|Russo–Ukrainian War}} thumb|Pro-Russian unrest in Luhansk, April 2014
In April 2014, Russia-backed separatists seized governmental buildings in the region, proclaiming the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), with its capital in Luhansk.<ref name=IEU/> An independence referendum, unconstitutional under Ukrainian law, was held on 11 May 2014. This referendum was not recognized as legitimate by any government.<ref name="Referendum on joining Russia">{{cite web|title=Ukraine's Eastern Region Of Luhansk May Now Hold Referendum On Joining Russia|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ukraines-luhansk-may-now-hold-referendum-on-joining-russia-2014-5|work=Business Insider|access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27369980|title=Ukraine rebels seek to join Russia|date=12 May 2014|access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref> These events escalated into the War in Donbas.
In August 2014, Ukrainian government forces completely surrounded rebel-held Luhansk.<ref>"[http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_26275351/east-ukraine-city-luhansk-dying-under-siege-residents-say East Ukraine city of Luhansk dying under siege, residents say]". ''The Denver Post''. 5 August 2014.</ref> Heavy shelling caused civilian casualties in the city.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28770179|title=Ukraine conflict: Under siege in Luhansk|publisher=Bbc.com|date=13 August 2014|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref><ref>"[http://www.newsweek.com/shell-torn-luhansk-food-and-water-scarce-welcome-hell-264989 In Shell-Torn Luhansk, Food and Water Is Scarce: 'Welcome to Hell!']". ''Newsweek''. 15 August 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Magnay|first1=Diana|last2=Lister|first2=Tim|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/03/world/europe/ukraine-luhansk-building-attack/index.html?hpt=ieu_c2|title=Air attack on pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk kills 8, stuns city|publisher=CNN|date=3 June 2014|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> On 17 August, Ukrainian soldiers entered the rebel-controlled Luhansk and for a time had control over a police station.<ref name="guardian luhansk breakthrough">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/18/ukraine-breakthrough-rebel-luhansk|title=Ukraine troops claim breakthrough in battle for rebel city Luhansk|work=The Guardian|date=17 August 2014|agency=Reuters|access-date=17 August 2014}}</ref> A statement released on 22 August by Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Antanas Linkevičius said that the Lithuanian honorary consul in Luhansk, Mykola Zelenec, was abducted by the pro-Russian separatists and murdered.<ref name="BBClekil">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28901386 |title=Lithuania envoy killed in Luhansk |work=BBC News |date=22 August 2014 |access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref> Linkevičius defined the abductors as 'terrorists'.<ref name="BBClekil"/>
After the Ilovaisk counteroffensive, LPR forces regained Lutuhyne and other Luhansk suburbs. Ukrainian forces withdrew from the Luhansk International Airport on 1 September 2014, after heavy fighting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29009516|title=Ukraine crisis: Troops abandon Luhansk airport after clashes|publisher=Bbc.com|date=1 September 2014|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> Human Rights Watch reported high civilian casualties in and around the city, recording over 300 civilian deaths caused by explosive weapons between May and September 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-09-01 |title=Ukraine: Rising Civilian Toll in Luhansk |language=en |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/09/01/ukraine-rising-civilian-toll-luhansk |access-date=2023-09-17}}</ref> The temporary administration of Luhansk Oblast was moved to Sievierodonetsk by the government of Ukraine.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
On 21 November 2017, armed men in unmarked uniforms took up positions in the center of Luhansk in what appeared to be a power struggle between the head of the republic Igor Plotnitsky and the (sacked by Plotnitsky) LPR appointed interior minister Igor Kornet.<ref name="rferl.org">{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-following-situation-separatists-luhansk/28869751.html|title=Kremlin 'Following' Situation In Ukraine's Russia-Backed Separatist-Controlled Luhansk|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=22 November 2017 |access-date=22 November 2017|archive-date=22 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122135823/https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-following-situation-separatists-luhansk/28869751.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/luhansk-coup-ukraine-russia-igor-kornet-igor-plotnitsky-military-operations-training-exercise-a8068656.html|title=Luhansk coup attempt continues as rival militia occupies separatist region|date=22 November 2017|website=The Independent|access-date=28 January 2018|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101201926/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/luhansk-coup-ukraine-russia-igor-kornet-igor-plotnitsky-military-operations-training-exercise-a8068656.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Media reports stated that the Donetsk People's Republic, a parallel Russian-backed entity in neighboring Donetsk Oblast, had sent armed troops to Luhansk the following night.<ref name="rferl.org"/><ref name="independent.co.uk"/> Three days later the website of the separatists stated that Plotnitsky had resigned "for health reasons. Multiple war wounds, the effects of blast injuries, took their toll."<ref name=idUSKBN1DO251>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-luhansk/ukraine-rebel-regions-security-minister-says-he-is-new-leader-idUSKBN1DO251?il=0 Ukraine rebel region's security minister says he is new leader] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502191200/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-luhansk/ukraine-rebel-regions-security-minister-says-he-is-new-leader-idUSKBN1DO251?il=0 |date=2 May 2019 }}, Reuters (24 November 2017)<br />[https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-luhansk-separatist-leader-plotnitsky-resigns/28875414.html Separatist Leader In Ukraine's Luhansk Resigns Amid Power Struggle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509063942/https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-luhansk-separatist-leader-plotnitsky-resigns/28875414.html |date=9 May 2019 }}, Radio Free Europe (24 November 2017)</ref> The website stated that security minister Leonid Pasechnik had been named acting leader "until the next elections."<ref name=idUSKBN1DO251/>
==Geography== Luhansk is located at the confluence of the Luhan (also known as Luhanka) and Olkhova rivers. The total area of land within the city's boundaries is 28.6 thousand hectares.
The city's main street is Sovetskaya Street, and the central venue for major public events is Theatre Square.
===Climate=== Luhansk has a hot summer humid continental climate (Köppen ''Dfa''). Luhansk has both the highest and lowest temperature recorded in Ukraine. A record high of {{convert|42.0|°C|°F|1}} was recorded on 12 August 2010, which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Ukraine.<ref name=cgo>{{cite web |url =http://www.cgo.kiev.ua/index.php?dv=klimat-rekords/ |script-title =uk:Кліматичні рекорди |publisher =Central Observatory for Geophysics |language =uk |access-date =4 August 2016 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160804044852/http://www.cgo.kiev.ua/index.php?dv=klimat-rekords%2F |archive-date =4 August 2016 |url-status =dead }}</ref><ref name="wu">{{cite web|last=Masters|first=Jeff|title=Bolivia ties its all-time heat record|url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1701|work=Weather Underground|publisher=Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog|access-date=23 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124020718/http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1701|archive-date=24 November 2010}}</ref> A record low of {{convert|-41.9|°C|°F|1}} was recorded on 8 January 1935.<ref name=cgo/>
{{Weather box|width = auto |location = Luhansk (1991-2020, extremes 1882–present) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes | Jan record high C = 13.4 | Feb record high C = 17.3 | Mar record high C = 24.1 | Apr record high C = 31.4 | May record high C = 36.6 | Jun record high C = 39.3 | Jul record high C = 40.5 | Aug record high C = 42.0 | Sep record high C = 36.8 | Oct record high C = 31.2 | Nov record high C = 24.0 | Dec record high C = 15.5 | year record high C = 42.0 | Jan high C = -0.6 | Feb high C = 0.8 | Mar high C = 7.0 | Apr high C = 16.4 | May high C = 23.3 | Jun high C = 27.5 | Jul high C = 29.9 | Aug high C = 29.4 | Sep high C = 22.6 | Oct high C = 14.5 | Nov high C = 5.9 | Dec high C = 0.7 | year high C = | Jan mean C = -3.6 | Feb mean C = -3.0 | Mar mean C = 2.5 | Apr mean C = 10.4 | May mean C = 16.5 | Jun mean C = 21.0 | Jul mean C = 23.2 | Aug mean C = 22.1 | Sep mean C = 15.8 | Oct mean C = 9.1 | Nov mean C = 2.4 | Dec mean C = -2.1 | year mean C = | Jan low C = -6.4 | Feb low C = -6.3 | Mar low C = -1.4 | Apr low C = 4.6 | May low C = 9.6 | Jun low C = 14.3 | Jul low C = 16.5 | Aug low C = 15.0 | Sep low C = 9.6 | Oct low C = 4.4 | Nov low C = -0.8 | Dec low C = -4.8 | year low C = | Jan record low C = -41.9 | Feb record low C = -39.0 | Mar record low C = -27.3 | Apr record low C = -12.1 | May record low C = -4.5 | Jun record low C = -1.8 | Jul record low C = 4.4 | Aug record low C = -0.4 | Sep record low C = -7.2 | Oct record low C = -16.3 | Nov record low C = -26.3 | Dec record low C = -29.6 | year record low C = -41.9 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 35 | Feb precipitation mm = 35 | Mar precipitation mm = 34 | Apr precipitation mm = 33 | May precipitation mm = 47 | Jun precipitation mm = 61 | Jul precipitation mm = 65 | Aug precipitation mm = 37 | Sep precipitation mm = 50 | Oct precipitation mm = 42 | Nov precipitation mm = 36 | Dec precipitation mm = 42 | year precipitation mm = | Jan snow depth cm = 6 | Feb snow depth cm = 10 | Mar snow depth cm = 7 | Apr snow depth cm = 0 | May snow depth cm = 0 | Jun snow depth cm = 0 | Jul snow depth cm = 0 | Aug snow depth cm = 0 | Sep snow depth cm = 0 | Oct snow depth cm = 0 | Nov snow depth cm = 1 | Dec snow depth cm = 4 | year snow depth cm = | Jan rain days = 10 | Feb rain days = 8 | Mar rain days = 11 | Apr rain days = 14 | May rain days = 13 | Jun rain days = 14 | Jul rain days = 12 | Aug rain days = 8 | Sep rain days = 11 | Oct rain days = 11 | Nov rain days = 13 | Dec rain days = 10 | year rain days = 135 | Jan snow days = 17 | Feb snow days = 16 | Mar snow days = 10 | Apr snow days = 1 | May snow days = 0.1 | Jun snow days = 0.03 | Jul snow days = 0 | Aug snow days = 0 | Sep snow days = 0.1 | Oct snow days = 1 | Nov snow days = 7 | Dec snow days = 16 | year snow days = 68 | Jan humidity = 83.3 | Feb humidity = 80.6 | Mar humidity = 74.8 | Apr humidity = 63.9 | May humidity = 62.2 | Jun humidity = 63.1 | Jul humidity = 62.0 | Aug humidity = 60.3 | Sep humidity = 68.4 | Oct humidity = 76.4 | Nov humidity = 82.6 | Dec humidity = 84.2 | year humidity = 71.8 | Jan sun = 50 | Feb sun = 75 | Mar sun = 127 | Apr sun = 188 | May sun = 279 | Jun sun = 292 | Jul sun = 319 | Aug sun = 298 | Sep sun = 215 | Oct sun = 134 | Nov sun = 64 | Dec sun = 38 | year sun = 2079 |source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net<ref name="pogoda">{{cite web|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/34523.htm|script-title=ru:Погода и климат|trans-title=Weather and climate|language=ru|publisher=pogodaiklimat.ru|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref> |source 2 = NOAA (humidity and sun 1991–2020)<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250422013116/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/6.6/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Ukraine/CSV/Luhansk_34523.csv | archive-date = 22 April 2025 | archive-format = CSV | format = CSV | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/6.6/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Ukraine/CSV/Luhansk_34523.csv | title = Luhansk Climate Normals 1991–2020 | work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) | publisher = National Centers for Environmental Information | access-date = 21 April 2025}}</ref> |date=June 2012}}
== Administrative divisions ==
[[File:Luhansk raions eng.svg|thumb|250px|A map of the districts of Luhansk]]
The city of Luhansk is administratively divided into four districts: * Zhovtnevyi District (until 1964{{snd}}Oktiabrskyi; ''de jure'' since 2026{{snd}}Verhunskyi<ref name="LuhanskRenamings">{{Cite web |date=27 February 2026 |script-title=uk:Про перейменування районів у місті Луганську, назви яких містять символіку російської імперської політики та символіку комуністичного тоталітарного режиму |trans-title=On Renaming Urban Districts in Luhansk, the Names of Which Contain Symbolism of Russian Imperial Policy and Communist Totalitarian Regime |url=https://lova.gov.ua/sites/default/files/golova-acts/75_9.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260516115510/https://lova.gov.ua/sites/default/files/golova-acts/75_9.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2026 |access-date=16 May 2026 |url-status=live |website=Luhansk Oblast Military Administration |language=uk}}</ref>) The district includes the settlements of Velyka Vergunka, Mala Vergunka, Krasnyi Yar, and Veselenke. During the Soviet period, these settlements were part of the Vatutynskyi District, which was merged into Zhovtnevyi District in the 1960s. * Artemivskyi District (''de jure'' since 2026{{snd}}Vilkhivskyi<ref name="LuhanskRenamings" />) Previously, this district had jurisdiction over the satellite town of Oleksandrivsk, the urban-type settlement of Yuvileine (Katerynivka), (Katerinivka), and the rural settlements of Teplychne and Dzerzhynske (Zrazkove or Prymerne). * Leninskyi District (''de jure'' since 2026{{snd}}Shevchenkivskyi<ref name="LuhanskRenamings" />) * Kamiano-Bridskyi District
Additionally, in 2014, three territorial administrations were established by Russian authorities: * Yuvileine * Oleksandrivsk * Burchak-Mykhailivka, Mykolaivka, Pionerske, and Lobachove.
Between 2020 and 2022, as part of the city administration, three structural territorial departments were formed: * Department for Yuvileine * Department for Oleksandrivsk (including the settlements of Dzerzhynske and Teplychne) *Department for the town of Shchastia
There are 49 local self-organization committees in operation.
=== Symbols === <gallery> Flag of Luhansk.svg|Ukraine-recognized Flag of Luhansk Coat of arms of Luhansk.svg|Ukraine-recognized Coat of arms of Luhansk Flag of Lugansk.svg|Russia-recognized Flag of Luhansk since 2024 Coat of Arms of Lugansk.svg|Russia-recognized Coat of arms of Luhansk since 2024 </gallery>
== Education == [[File:Институт Культуры.jpg|thumb|Luhansk University]] Some of the more prestigious universities in Ukraine have their home in Luhansk. Luhansk is the location of the main campus of the Luhansk University, East Ukrainian National University and of Luhansk State Medical University.
==Demographics== {{historical populations|1897|20404|1926|71006|1939|211682|1959|274520|1970|382774|1979|463047|1989|496813|2001|463097|2011|431109|2022|397677|align=left|cols=2|source=<ref>{{cite web|title=Cities & Towns of Ukraine|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/ukraine-cities.htm}}</ref>}} {{clear|left}} In the Ukrainian Census of 2001,<ref>{{cite web|title=All-Ukrainian Population Census '2001|publisher=State Statistics Committee of Ukraine|url=http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/eng/results/}}</ref> 49.6% of the inhabitants declared themselves as ethnically Ukrainians and 47% as Russians. 85.3% of the population spoke Russian as their native language, while 13.7% spoke Ukrainian, 0.2% Armenian and 0.1% Belarusian.
==Sport== Luhansk was the home of Zorya Luhansk which plays in the Ukrainian Premier League but due to the Russian invasion and occupation of Luhansk, now plays its matches in Zaporizhzhia. The club won the 1972 Soviet Top League.
Luhansk is also the home of FC Zarya Luhansk which will play in the Russian Second League B Group 1 in the 2026 season. Formed in December 2023, it currently trains in Luhansk but plays home games in Abramovka.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.iz.ru/en/2044605/aleksei-fomin/zarya-has-entered-team-lugansk-will-play-second-league |title=Zarya has entered: the team from Lugansk will play in the Second League |date=18 February 2026 |access-date=21 February 2026}}</ref>
The other football team was Dynamo Luhansk.
==Culture== ===Merheleva Ridge=== {{Main|Merheleva Ridge}} On 7 September 2006, archaeologists in Ukraine announced that an ancient structure had been discovered near Luhansk, which the press reported as a pyramid antedating those in Egypt by at least 300 years. The stone foundations of the structure were said to resemble Aztec and Mayan pyramids in Mesoamerica. It was later concluded that the site in question was not a pyramid but was still of great interest.
==Notable people== [[File:1872. Портрет писателя Владимира Ивановича Даля.jpg|thumb|120px|Vladimir Dal, 1872]] [[File:Ситник Костянтин Меркурійович.jpg|thumb|120px|Kostiantyn Sytnyk, pre-2012]] * Vladislav Anisovich (1908–1969) a Russian and Soviet painter and art educator * Vladimir Bobrov (1915–1970) a Soviet fighter pilot and flying ace * Nadiya Bychkova (born 1989) a Ukrainian-Slovenian ballroom and Latin American dancer * Vladimir Dal (1801–1872), Russian lexicographer and polyglot * Dov Feigin (1907–2000) an Israeli sculptor * Pavel Luspekayev (1927–1970) a Soviet actor * Yulia Malinovsky (born 1975), Israeli politician * Mikhail Matusovsky (1915–1990), Soviet poet, songwriter * Julia Rysina (born 1989) stage name ''T-DJ Milana'', DJ, composer, dancer and model * Leonid Pasechnik (born 1970) leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic. * Igor Plotnitsky (born 1964) former leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic. * Andriy Portnov (born 1973) a Ukrainian lawyer and politician. * Aleksandr Ptushko (1900–1973) a Soviet animation and fantasy film director * Nikolay Shmatko (1943–2020), sculptor, professor and painter * Tatyana Snezhina (1972–1995) a Russian poet and singer-songwriter. * Kostiantyn Sytnyk (1926–2017) a Ukrainian and Soviet scientist and academician * Kliment Voroshilov (1881–1969), Soviet military commander [[File:2020-01-15 Medals Ceremonies (2020 Winter Youth Olympics) by Sandro Halank–152.jpg|thumb|120px|Sergey Bubka, 2020]] [[File:Irina Kirichenko 1967b.jpg|thumb|120px|Irina Kirichenko, 1967]] [[File:Viktor Onopko 2011.jpg|thumb|120px|Viktor Onopko, 2011]]
=== Sport === * Sergey Andreyev (born 1956) a football manager and a former player with 617 club caps and 26 for the Soviet Union * Valeriy Brumel (1942–2003), a Soviet high jumper; silver medallist at the 1960 Summer Olympics and gold medallist at the 1964 Summer Olympics * Viktor Bryzhin (born 1962) a former sprinter, team gold medallist at the 1988 Summer Olympics. * Yelyzaveta Bryzhina (born 1989), sprinter, team bronze medallist at the 2012 Summer Olympics * Sergey Bubka (born 1963), Soviet and Ukrainian pole vaulter, former World Record holder, and gold medallist at the 1988 Summer Olympics * Vasiliy Bubka (born 1960), Soviet and Ukrainian pole vaulter * Fedor Emelianenko (born 1976), Russian heavyweight mixed martial arts and judoka * Vyacheslav Glazkov (born 1984) boxer, bronze medallist at the 2008 Summer Olympics * Irina Kirichenko (1937–2020) a Soviet sprint cyclist * Serhiy Malyi (born 1990) footballer with over 150 club caps and 46 for Kazakhstan * Viktor Onopko (born 1969), Russian football player with 462 club caps and 109 for Russia * Sergei Semak (born 1976), footballer and manager with 552 club caps and 65 for Russia * Andriy Serdinov (born 1982), butterfly swimmer, bronze medallist at the 2004 Summer Olympics. * Oleh Shelayev (born 1976), footballer with over 400 club caps and 36 for Ukraine * Anton Shoutvin (born 1989), Israeli basketball player * Tetyana Skachko (born 1954) long jumper, bronze medallist at the 1980 Summer Olympics * Tetyana Tereshchuk-Antipova (born 1969), hurdler, bronze medallist at the 2004 Summer Olympics * Sergei Yuran (born 1969), football player with 276 club caps and 25 for Russia * Oleksandr Zavarov (born 1961), Soviet and Ukrainian football player and coach with over 450 club caps and 41 for the Soviet Union
==International relations== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Ukraine}}
Luhansk is twinned with: *{{flagicon|GBR}} Cardiff, United Kingdom<ref name="Cardiff twinning">{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?id=2940&d1=0|title=Cardiff's twin cities|publisher=Cardiff Council|date=15 June 2010|access-date=10 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609144903/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?id=2940&d1=0|archive-date=9 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="OLCC">{{cite web|url=http://gorod.lugansk.ua/index.php?newsid=12283|title=History of Luhansk|publisher=Official site of Luhansk City Council|date=15 October 2012|access-date=10 June 2015|archive-date=17 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817122009/http://gorod.lugansk.ua/index.php?newsid=12283|url-status=dead}}</ref> *{{flagicon|POL}} Lublin, Poland<ref name="OLCC"/><ref name="Lublin twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.lublin.eu/Miasta_partnerskie_Lublina-1-443-3-413_436.html|title=Miasta Partnerskie Lublina|trans-title=Partner Cities of Lublin|language=pl|access-date=7 August 2013|work=Lublin.eu|location=Lublin|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116171020/http://lublin.eu/Miasta_partnerskie_Lublina-1-443-3-413_436.html|archive-date=16 January 2013}}</ref> *{{flagicon|HUN}} Székesfehérvár, Hungary<ref name="OLCC"/><ref name="Székesfehérvár twinning">{{cite web|url=http://onkormanyzat.szekesfehervar.hu/index.php?pg=page_49881|title=Partnervárosok Névsora Partner és Testvérvárosok Névsora|trans-title=Partner and Twin Cities List|language=hu|work=City of Székesfehérvár|access-date=5 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208035612/http://onkormanyzat.szekesfehervar.hu/index.php?pg=page_49881|archive-date=8 December 2012}}</ref> *{{flagicon|CHN}} Daqing, China<ref name="OLCC"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wsqw.daqing.gov.cn/neirong/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=19|title=大庆市与乌克兰卢甘斯克市的往来纪实|publisher=大庆市外事侨务网站|access-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511094815/http://wsqw.daqing.gov.cn/neirong/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=19|archive-date=11 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> *{{flagicon|FRA}} Saint-Étienne, France<ref name="OLCC"/><ref>{{cite book|author1=Sue Bridger|author2=Frances Pine|title=Surviving Post-Socialism: Local Strategies and Regional Responses in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jeix5BV4BqIC&pg=PA190|access-date=9 June 2015|date=11 January 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-10715-4|page=190}}</ref> *{{flagicon|BUL}} Pernik, Bulgaria<ref name="OLCC"/>
==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> File:Night Luhansk sovetskya street.jpg|Radianska Street at night File:Гостиница "Луганск".jpg|Luhansk Hotel File:Отель Украина.jpg|Hotel Ukraine File:Свято-Владимирский кафедральный собор.jpg|St. Volodymyr Cathedral File:Эстакада.jpg|Luhansk railway station File:Кукольный Театр.jpg|Soviet buildings in the central city File:В.И.Даль 02.jpg|City old hospital Ukrainien theatre - panoramio.jpg|Luhansk Academic Ukrainian Drama Theatre File:Alexander Nevsky church 1.JPG|Saint Alexander Nevsky Church File:Sõjapurustused Luganskis.jpg|A consumer electronics and appliance store, heavily damaged as a consequence of the Russo-Ukrainian War. </gallery>
==See also== * Luhansk Airlines * Luhansk Airport * Luhanskteplovoz * Merheleva Ridge * Aviation Technical Museum (Luhansk)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Wiktionary}} {{Commons category|Luhansk}} {{Wikivoyage|Luhansk}} * [https://gorod-lugansk.ru/ Official website of the Luhansk city council] * [http://gorod.lugansk.ua/ Former website of the Luhansk city council (last updated July 2015)] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420150435/http://gorod.lugansk.ua/ |date=20 April 2009 }}) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716192404/http://sunsite.berkeley.edu:8085/x-ussr/100k/M-37-127.jpg Topographic map 1:100 000]
{{Luhansk Oblast}} {{Administrative divisions of Ukraine}} {{Cities in Ukraine}} {{Capitals of Ukraine}} {{2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Luhansk Category:1795 establishments in Europe Category:Cities in Luhansk Oblast Category:Cities of regional significance in Ukraine Category:Donets Category:Donetsk–Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic Category:Former Soviet toponymy in Ukraine Category:Luhansk urban hromada Category:Oblast centers in Ukraine Category:Populated places established in 1795 Category:Populated places established in the Russian Empire Category:Slavyanoserbsky Uyezd Category:Territorial disputes of Ukraine