Belgorod

Belgorod (Ukrainian: Bilhorod). Map: III-17. (Panorama: Belgorod.) City (2002 pop 344,200) on the Donets River, formerly in northern Slobidska Ukraine. It is now the center of Belgorod oblast in the Russian Federation, which borders on Kharkiv oblast and Sumy oblast. Bilhorod was first mentioned in medieval chronicles in 1237. From 1596 it was a fortress town and the center of a 300 km line of fortifications known as the Belgorod Line. The town was often attacked by the Crimean Tatars. At the end of the 17th century the metropolitan's cathedral was located in Belgorod, but it was abolished by Peter I. Its industry produces cement, building materials, machines, metal products, and food products.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 1 (1984).]