Cherykaw

Cherikov (; ; ) is a town in Mogilev Region, Belarus. It is located in the east of the region, on the Sozh River, and serves as the administrative center of Cherykaw District. In 2009, its population was 8,177. As of 2025, it has a population of 7,710.

==History== Cherikov was first mentioned in 1460. At the time, it was a part of Kingdom of Poland, and Casimir IV Jagiellon, the king, ordered to have an Orthodox church to be built in Cherikov. In 1604, Cherikov was granted the town status, and in 1641, it was granted a coat of arms. In 1772, as a result of the First Partition of Poland, it was transferred to Russia. In the 19th century it belonged to Mogilev Governorate. In 1919, Mogilev Governorate was abolished, and Cherikov was transferred to Gomel Governorate. On July 17, 1924 the governorate was abolished, and Cherikov became the administrative center of Cherikov Raion, which belonged to Kalinin Okrug of Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. In July, 1927, Kalinin Okrug was abolished, and Cherikov was transferred into Mogilev Okrug. On January 15, 1938 the raion was transferred to Mogilev Region. During the Second World War, the town was occupied by German troops and severely damaged. In 1986, it was considerably affected by the Chernobyl disaster.