Read about some other Ukrainian cities and find answers to the questions which follow

LVIV

Lviv was founded as a fort in the mid-13th century by Prince Danylo Halitski of Galicia, a former principality of Kyivan Rus. The first mention of Lviv in early chronicles is from 1256, although archeological excavation in 1993 revealed that the first settlements appeared in the 6th century.

Lviv quickly became the center of trade and commerce for the region. The city's favorable location on the crossroads of trade routes led to its rapid economic development.

From 1356 the burghers had the right of self-government, which implied that all city issues were to be solved by a city council, elected by wealthy citizens.

In 1784, the first university was opened. Lectures were held in Latin, German, Polish and Ukrainian.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Lviv became the center of a new Ukrainian national movement. Many prominent cultural and political leaders lived in Lviv, among them Ivan Franko, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, it was a meeting place of Ukrainian, Polish, and Jewish cultures.

With the collapse of the Hapsburg Empire at the end of Word War I, Lviv was proclaimed capital of the independent Republic of West Ukraine. But the troops of the re-emergent Poland seized the city, and Lviv returned to Polish rule until the Red Army took control in September, 1939. Lviv was occupied by Germany from 1941 to 1944. Almost entire Jewish population was murdered in concentration camps in Lviv and elsewhere. In 1944, Lviv again went under Soviet rule.

Lviv was an important center of activities of Ukrainian dissidents. Since late 1980s the city became a leading force in Ukraine's movement towards sovereignty and democracy.

Now, Lviv a major economic and cultural center on the Western region of independent Ukrainian state. Despite tremendons difficulties, economics reforms, among them privatization of enterprises and land proceed in Lviv more rapidly than in many other Ukrainian economics centers.

ODESSA

A young city, but promising to increase, in the year 1994 Odessa celebrated its 200th anniversary. All of these years Odessa was surrounded by popularity and love.

Let's come back to the date of its birth. On May 27, 1794 Russian queen Catherine II signed the order prescribing to lay the fortification on the shores of Khadzibey bay and to start the harbor development. On September 2, 1794 under the surveying of General Major duke Suvorov they began the foundatory works for future port. From the height of the present day it is not so easy to picture what tremendous efforts and civic courage were required of the Khadzibey's pioneers. The fortress and the port gave rise to the future town. Firstly, not more than 30 buildings in stone were erected along the harbor. An arsenal, storehouses, hospital frontier control and quarantine buildings were built by first Khadzibey's inhabitants: soldiers, cossacks and sailors of Deribas' float. In 1795 the fortress has been renamed into Odessa.

According to one of the legends, its first mayor who was devotedly serving Russian but raised in France, decided to build the new city that would be even more beautiful than Paris. From the very beginning of its existence the city promised to be as wonderful as Northern Palmira – St. Petersburg and that is why the city on the Black Sea was known as Southern Palmira.

A whole galaxy of artists, poets and scientists made a considerable contribution to extending its glory. Such prominent figures as Mechnikov, Pirogov, Mendeleev, Pushkin and Bunin lived here. The second best theater in Europe after one in Vienna, heard the singing of Shalyapin and Sobinov, saw performances of Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Today the city remains a major port, the largest in Ukraine, with well-equipped docks and ship-repair yards.

The city's rail communications are good to all parts of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania.

Odessa is also a large industrial centre, with a wide range of engineering industries, including the production of machine tools, cranes, and plows. The chemical industry makes fertilizers, paints, dyes, and other materials. Odessa also has a number of consumer goods and food-processing factories. Most factories lie north of the port along the waterfront, with newer plants on the western outskirts.

Odessa is also an important cultural and educational centre. It has a university, founded in 1865, and numerous other institutions of higher education. Its many research establishments are headed by the Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases. There are a number of museums and theatres, including the opera house and ballet theatre, dating from 1809.

The seashore south of the harbour is a popular resort area, with numerous sanatoriums and holiday camps.

KHARKIV

Kharkiv was founded about 1655 as a military stronghold to protect Russia's southern borderlands; part of the old kremlin wall survives. The centre of a region of fertile soils and rapid colonization in the 18th century, it quickly developed important trade and handicraft manufactures and became a seat of provincial government in 1732. Its development was speeded in the later 19th century by the opening of the Donets Basin coalfield.

After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the establishment of the Ukrainian SSR in 1917, Kharkiv was made its first capital but lost this function to Kyiv in 1934. In World War II this key junction changed hands several times, with very heavy destruction.Today Kharkiv retains its role as a communications centre: it is the largest rail junction of Ukraine.

Kharkiv is also a centre of the highway system of Ukraine and Russia, with highways to Moscow, to Kyiv and western Ukraine, to Zaporizhzhya and the Crimea, and to Rostov-na-Donu and the Caucasus. It also has a major airport. It is the second largest city in Ukraine and is the centre of a metropolitan area comprising about 20 satellite towns.

The industrial structure of Kharkiv is headed by engineering.

The great destruction of World War II made it possible for contemporary Kharkiv to be rebuilt as a city of broad streets, large apartment blocks, imposing administrative and office buildings, and large industrial plants. Among survivals of the past are the 17th-century Pokrovsky Cathedral, the 19th-century Patriarchal Cathedral, and the belltower commemorating the victory over Napoleon I in 1812.

Kharkiv is one of the most important cultural and educational centres of Ukraine. Its university was founded in 1805. There are numerous other institutions of higher education, including polytechnic, medical, agricultural, and various engineering establishments. In addition, the city has a number of scientific-research institutions, a park of physical culture, and a botanical garden. Kharkiv has a philharmonic hall, several theatres (the oldest of which dates from 1780), a planetarium, and a number of museums. Its subway system was opened in 1975.

Who was the founder of Lviv?

Which factors stimulated Lviv's growth?

When was Lviv University opened?

Why is Lviv often referred to as the centre of Ukrainian national movement?

How old is Odessa? How was it founded?

Why is Odessa called Southern Palmira?

What makes up Odessa's cultural and scientific potential?

What was the role of Kharkiv in the early period of its existence?

Why is Kharkiv often referred to as the second capital of Ukraine?

Which are the main places of historic interest in Kharkiv?