Smolensk
Smolensk
Смоленск | |
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Smolensk Art Gallery Smolensk Kremlin Holy Trinity Cathedral Philharmonic | |
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Flag | |
| Anthem: Anthem of Smolensk | |
Interactive map of Smolensk | |
Smolensk Location of Smolensk Smolensk Smolensk (European Russia) Smolensk Smolensk (Europe) | |
| Coordinates: 54°46′58″N 32°02′43″E / 54.78278°N 32.04528°E | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Smolensk Oblast |
| First mentioned | 863 |
| Government | |
| • Body | City Council |
| • Head | Alexander Novikov |
| Area | |
• Total | 166.35 km2 (64.23 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 254 m (833 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 326,861 |
• Estimate (2025) | 310,460 (−5%) |
| • Rank | 54th in 2010 |
| • Density | 1,964.9/km2 (5,089.1/sq mi) |
| • Subordinated to | Smolensk Urban Okrug |
| • Capital of | Smolensk Oblast, Smolensky District |
| • Urban okrug | Smolensk Urban Okrug |
| • Capital of | Smolensk Urban Okrug, Smolensky Municipal District |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK ) |
| Postal code | 214ХХХ |
| Dialing code | +7 4812 |
| OKTMO ID | 66701000001 |
| Website | www |
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, 360 kilometers (220 mi) west-southwest of Moscow. It has a population of 316,570 (2021 census).
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. It was the place of the Smolensk air disaster of 2010.