Smolensk
Sign in to saveSmolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. It has a population of
AI overview
Smolensk is a city in western Russia that serves as the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast and sits on the Dnieper River. It matters historically and geographically as an important regional city positioned between Moscow and the western border of Russia.
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Key facts
- Russian inhabited locality.en_name
- Smolensk
- Russian inhabited locality.ru_name
- Смоленск
- Russian inhabited locality.pushpin_map
- Russia Smolensk Oblast#European Russia#Europe
- Russian inhabited locality.image_flag
- Flag of Smolensk.png
- Russian inhabited locality.image_coa
- Coat of arms of Smolensk.png
- Russian inhabited locality.anthem
- Anthem of Smolensk
- Russian inhabited locality.federal_subject
- Smolensk Oblast
- Russian inhabited locality.adm_inhabloc_jur
- Smolensk Urban Okrug
- Russian inhabited locality.adm_ctr_of1
- Smolensk Oblast
- Russian inhabited locality.adm_ctr_of2
- Smolensky District
- Russian inhabited locality.inhabloc_cat
- City
Article
32 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Geography
- History
- Medieval origins
- Between Lithuania and Russia
- Modern history
- Soviet period
- Recent events
- Demographics
- Attractions
- The Smolensk Kremlin
- Churches and cathedrals
- Monuments
- Lopatinsky garden
- Square of Memory of Heroes
- Education buildings
- Post-war Stalinist buildings
- Administrative and municipal status
- Politics
- Climate
- Economy
- Transportation
- Education
- Twin towns – sister cities
- Notable people
- Honors
- See also
- References
- Notes
- Sources
- Bibliography
- External links
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. It has a population of
First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest cities in Russia. It has been a regional capital for most of the past millennium, beginning as the capital of the Principality of Smolensk in the 11th-15th centuries, then the Smolensk Voivodeship of Lithuania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and Smolensk Governorate and Oblast within Russia. It was the main stronghold of the Smolensk Gate, a geostrategically significant pass between the Daugava and Dnieper rivers, and as such was an important point of contention in the struggle for dominance in Eastern Europe, passing at various times between Lithuania, Poland and Russia. In more recent history, it was the site of two battles in 1812 and 1941 during the French invasion of Russia and Operation Barbarossa respectively on their paths towards Moscow. The Smolensk air disaster occurred near the city in 2010.