{{short description|City in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine}} {{Multiple issues| {{Expand Ukrainian|date=September 2022|topic=geo}} {{Expand Russian|date=September 2022|topic=geo}} }} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Polohy | native_name = Пологи | native_name_lang = uk | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = Polohy Railway Station 03 (YDS 4624).jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Polohy railway station | image_flag = File:Flag pology.PNG | image_shield = Polohy COA.svg | nickname = | motto = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Ukraine | subdivision_type1 = Oblast | subdivision_name1 = Zaporizhzhia Oblast | subdivision_type2 = Raion | subdivision_name2 = Polohy Raion | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1887 | established_title1 = | established_date1 = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Yuriy Konovalenko | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | population_as_of = 2022 | population_note = | population_total = 18111 | population_footnotes = | population_metro = | population_density_km2 = | pushpin_map = Ukraine#Ukraine Zaporizhzhia Oblast | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | coordinates = {{Coord|47|29|N|36|15|E|region:UA_type:city|display=title}} | elevation_m = | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = Dfa | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = | subdivision_type3 = Hromada | subdivision_name3 = Polohy urban hromada | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 11 | mapframe-wikidata = yes }}
'''Polohy''' ({{Langx|uk|Пологи}}, {{IPA|uk|poˈlɔɦɪ|IPA|audio=LL-Q8798 (ukr)-Gzhegozh-Пологи.wav}}; {{langx|ru|Пологи|Pologi}}) is a city in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in south-eastern Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Polohy urban hromada and Polohy Raion within the oblast. Population: {{Ua-pop-est2022|18,111|.}} It is a significant railway junction. Since March 2022, it has been under Russian occupation.
== Geography ==
Polohy is located on the left bank of the Konka river, at the intersection of several railways, making it a significant railway junction.<ref name=ukrssr/> The {{ill|Polohy railway station|uk|Пологи (станція)}} is located there.
Across the Konka river is a village, also called {{Ill|Polohy (village), Zaporizhzhia Oblast|lt=Polohy|uk|Пологи (село)}}.
== History ==
=== Founding and early history === thumb|left|Old victualling house Polohy was established in 1887 after the construction of a railway that connected Berdiansk with Yekaterinoslav.<ref name=yv1>{{cite web|url=http://www.yadvashem.org/untoldstories/database/index.asp?cid=598|work=Yad Vashem|title=Pologi|access-date=8 September 2023}}</ref><!-- The ukssr source mentions that in 1887 "виник грабарський пункт" - a 'грабар' was established there? Having trouble figuring out what this means. Maybe a mine of some sort? --> The city specifically celebrates 17 September as the date of the city's founding.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304181020/http://mradapology.gov.ua/news/1396-17_veresnia__den_mista.html |archive-date=4 March 2022 |title=17 вересня – День міста |url=http://mradapology.gov.ua/news/1396-17_veresnia__den_mista.html}}</ref>
By 1890, houses for workers had been built in the area. In 1894, the railway station was built, contributing to the growth of the village. By 1904, when a second railway line was built that crossed through the village, Polohy became a railway hub. In 1905, there were "about a hundred thatched huts and dugouts" in the village, and it had a total population of around 700.<ref name=ukrssr/> The population of the village took part in the Russian Revolution of 1905, demonstrating for workers' rights and going on strike.<ref name=ukrssr/>
During the Ukrainian War of Independence, the Bolsheviks took over the village in January 1918. However, in March the same year, Polohy was easily captured by the Central Powers during the 1918 Central Powers invasion of Ukraine, and handed over to the Ukrainian State. Communist partisans were active.<ref name=ukrssr/> It was captured by the anti-communist White Army in late December 1918, before being recaptured by the Red Army on 5 February 1919. Continued fighting took place over Polohy throughout the war, involving Makhnovites, the Army of Wrangel, and South Russia, until an eventual Bolshevik victory in August 1920.<ref name=ukrssr/> Afterwards it was administratively part of the Zaporizhzhia Governorate of Ukraine.<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|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>
=== In the Soviet Union === On 7 October 1923, the All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee declared the establishment of Polohy Raion inside {{ill|Berdiansk Okruha|uk|Бердянська округа}} of Yekaterinoslav Governorate, with its administrative center in Polohy.<ref name=raionHistory>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826143215/http://pologyrda.gov.ua/pologivskij-rajon/istoria-krau.html |archive-date=26 August 2016 |url=http://pologyrda.gov.ua/pologivskij-rajon/istoria-krau.html |url-status=dead |title=Історія краю|language=uk}}</ref> Polohy received the status of urban-type settlement in October 1928. From 1928 to 1937, Polohy carried the name of '''Chubarivka''',<ref name=ukrssr>{{Cite web |title=Пологи, Пологівський район, Запорізька область |url=https://ukrssr.com.ua/zapor/pologivskiy/pologi-pologivskiy-rayon-zaporizka-oblast |access-date=2023-09-08 |language=uk}}</ref> after the Soviet politician Vlas Chubar.<ref name=raionHistory/> Polohy received city status in 1938.<ref>{{cite book|title=Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia|language=uk|section=Поло́ги|section-url=https://leksika.com.ua/10131115/ure/pologi|access-date=8 September 2023}}</ref>
The mass grave of victims of the Nazis in Polohy|thumb During World War II, Polohy was occupied by Nazi Germany beginning 5 October 1941. Oppressions against the local Jewish population - who had comprised 3.2% of the population prewar - began immediately.<ref name=yv1/> In December 1941, a large number of Jews - either 70 families or 100 Jews, according to different reports - were murdered at Polohy as part of the Holocaust. There are some reports of subsequent mass killings of Jews and non-Jews at the same site over the following months.<ref name=yv2>{{Cite web |title=Murder Story of Pologi Jews at the Fat Boiling Facility near Pologi |url=https://collections.yadvashem.org/en/untold-stories/killing-site/14626611 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Yad Vashem}}</ref> Polohy was liberated by the Red Army on 17 September 1943.<ref name=yv1/>
A cannery was opened in Polohy in 1967, which processed agricultural products.<ref name=ukrssr/>
=== In independent Ukraine ===
Polohy urban hromada, a hromada (low-level administrative division) of Ukraine with its center in Polohy, was formed on 30 March 2018 from the union of several local councils.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}<!-- annoyingly hard to source this for some reason. can’t find the specific verkhovna rada edict, ukwiki gives some info about it but no url -->
==== Russian invasion of Ukraine ====
On 3 March 2022, Polohy was captured by Russian forces during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref name=crisis>{{cite news |title=Under the Russian boot: how citizens of Polohy live through hell of occupation |url=https://uacrisis.org/en/yak-pologivtsi-en |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=Ukraine Crisis Media Center |date=17 May 2022 |archive-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624201025/https://uacrisis.org/en/yak-pologivtsi-en |url-status=live }}</ref> The city was shelled with Grad rockets and other weapons, heavily damaging many houses. Locals have accused Russian forces of deliberately destroying the city's critical infrastructure. Eyewitness reports from the city have also detailed accounts of Russian soldiers murdering civilians, sacking, abducting local activists, and torturing people in the city.<ref name=crisis/> Water and electricity infrastructure has stopped working, as well as internet access and cellular communication. Food insecurity has become a problem for residents. While exact population estimates are uncertain, the Ukraine Crisis Media Center said that it was certain at least half of the pre-invasion population had fled by May 2022.<ref name=crisis/>
Russian forces heavily fortified areas near the city in anticipation of the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balmforth |first=Tom |date=2023-04-27 |title=Insight: Russia digs in as Ukraine prepares to attack |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-digs-ukraine-prepares-attack-2023-04-27/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> In May 2023, reports from ordinary residents of Polohy as well as the exiled mayor Yuriy Konovalenko said that Russia was forcibly removing civilians from the city to be transferred to Berdiansk, deeper within Russia-controlled territory.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Yankovskiy |first1=Oleksandr |last2=Badyuk |first2=Olena |date=2023-05-12 |title='Panicking For Real': In Anticipation Of A Counteroffensive, Russia Moves Thousands Of People From Their Homes In Southern Ukraine |language=en |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-counteroffensive-russia-evacuations-panic-kherson-zaporizhzhya/32409162.html |access-date=2023-09-09}}</ref> In July 2023, a three-man Ukrainian drone team used an explosive-carrying drone to blow up a Russian electronic warfare system mounted on a tower in Polohy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-06 |title=Ukraine's elite forces rely on technology to strike behind enemy lines |language=en |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/06/ukraine-special-forces-alpha-counteroffensive/ |access-date=2023-09-09}}</ref>
On 8–10 September 2023, the 2023 Russian elections took place in the occupied Ukrainian territories,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-08 |title=United Russia's headquarters smashed in temporarily occupied Polohy |language=en |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3758982-united-russias-headquarters-smashed-in-temporarily-occupied-polohy.html |access-date=2023-09-09}}</ref> which Melitopol mayor Ivan Fedorov described as "hellish pseudo-elections". During this period, on 9 September, Fedorov reported that the headquarters of United Russia - the Russian ruling party - in Polohy had been blown up.<ref name=hq>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-08 |title=Official: 'United Russia' HQ destroyed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid sham elections |language=en |url=https://kyivindependent.com/official-united-russia-hq-destroyed-in-zaporizhzhia-oblast-amid-sham-elections/ |access-date=2023-09-09}}</ref> Fedorov alluded to casualties among the occupation authorities, stating on Telegram that "Some went to the hospital, and some went straight to the morgue".<ref name=hq/>
==Demographics== Distribution of ethnic groups according to the 2001 Ukrainian census:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://datatowel.in.ua/pop-composition/ethnic-cities | title=Національний склад міст }}</ref>
{{bar box|title=Ethnic groups in Polohy|titlebar=#ddd|left1=|right1=percent|bars={{bar percent|Ukrainians|dodgerblue|91.25}} {{bar percent|Russians|purple|7.23}} {{bar percent|Belarusians|red|0.28}} {{bar percent|Azerbaijani|green|0.23}} {{bar percent|Armenians|red|0.20}} {{bar percent|Bulgarians|turquoise|0.18}} {{bar percent|Germans|darkblue|0.14}}}}
==Notable people== * Oleksii Chubashev (1991–2022), Ukrainian soldier * Volodymyr Kozak (born 1959), Ukrainian politician * Viktor Poltavets (1925–2003), Soviet and Ukrainian artist * Vitaliy Satskyi (1930–2017), Ukrainian politician * Polina Zhemchuzhina (1897–1970), Soviet politician
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Polohy Raion}} {{Zaporizhzhia Oblast}} {{Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cities in Zaporizhzhia Oblast Category:Cities of district significance in Ukraine Category:Polohy Raion Category:Populated places established in 1887 Category:1887 establishments in the Russian Empire Category:Populated places established in the Russian Empire Category:Yekaterinoslav Governorate Category:Holocaust locations in Ukraine Category:Polohy