Poltava

Poltava
Полтава
Top left: Poltava Governorate Zemstvo Building, Top right: Poltava Holy Cross Monastery, Center: The Round Square, Bottom left: The White Arbor, Bottom right: Assumption Cathedral
Interactive map of Poltava
Poltava
Location of Poltava in Poltava Oblast.
Poltava
Poltava (Ukraine)
Coordinates: 49°35′22″N 34°33′05″E / 49.58944°N 34.55139°E / 49.58944; 34.55139
Country Ukraine
OblastPoltava Oblast
RaionPoltava Raion
HromadaPoltava urban hromada
Founded8991
Districts
  • Shevchenkivskyi District
  • Kyivskyi District
  • Podilskyi District
Area
 • Total
103 km2 (40 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
279,593
 • Density2,710/km2 (7,030/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
36000—36499
Area code+380-532(2)
Licence plateCK, BI
Sister citiesFilderstadt, Ostfildern, Veliko Tarnovo, Lublin, Nice
Websiterada-poltava.gov.ua/foreign/
1 The previously believed foundation date was 1174.

Poltava (UK: /pɒlˈtɑːvə/, US: /pəlˈ-/; Ukrainian: Полтава, IPA: [polˈtɑwɐ] ) is a city on the Vorskla River in Central Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Poltava Oblast as well as Poltava Raion within the oblast. It also hosts the administration of Poltava urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Poltava has a population of 279,593 (2022 estimate).

Potava was first mentioned as Ltava in Rus' chronicles of the 12th century. Known as Poltava since 1430, in the 17th century the city became part of the Hetmanate, serving as a centre of an eponymous Cossack regiment in Left-bank Ukraine. In 1709 it was the site of a decisive battle of the Great Northern War. Following the dissolution of Cossack Hetmanate, in 1802 Poltava became the centre of an eponymous governorate of the Russian Empire, and housed the residence of the governor general of Little Russia.

Starting from the late 18th century, Poltava became a major cultural centre, with many activists of the Ukrainian national revival living and working in the city. The city was severely damaged during World War II, but was restored and expanded in the following decades. In modern times Poltava remains an important cultural and educational centre, as well as a location of several notable industrial enterprises. Known for its parks, it is reputed to be one of the greenest cities in Ukraine.