Rivne

Rivne (/ˈrɪvnə/ RIV-nə; Ukrainian: Рівне, IPA: [ˈr⁽ʲ⁾iu̯ne] ^ⓘ; Polish: Równe) is a city in western Ukraine. The city is the administrative center of Rivne Oblast (province), as well as the Rivne Raion (district) within the oblast. It has a population of 243,873 (2022 estimate).

First mentioned in the late 13th century, Rivne developed under the rule of Lithuania and Poland due to its location on the route connecting Kyiv and Volodymyr. In the late 14th century the city was awarded Magdeburg Law. From the late 16th century it belonged to Ostrogski and Lubomirski noble families. Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1793, during the latter half of the 19th century Rivne experienced rapid development due to its role as a railway hub. In the spring of 1919 it served as a provisional seat of the Ukrainian government throughout the ongoing war with Soviet Russia. Between World War I and World War II, the city belonged to Poland as a district-level (county) seat of Wolyn Voivodeship. At the start of World War II in 1939, Rivne was occupied by the Soviet Red Army and received its current status by becoming a seat of regional government of the Rivne Oblast, which was created out of the eastern portion of the voivodeship. During the German occupation of 1941–44 the city was designated as the capital of Reichskommissariat Ukraine.

Rivne is an important transportation hub, with the international Rivne Airport, and rail links to Zdolbuniv, Sarny, and Kovel, as well as highways linking it with Brest, Kyiv and Lviv. Among other leading companies there is a chemical factory of Rivne-Azot (part of Ostchem Holding).