Novoazovsk

Novoazovsk (Ukrainian: Новоазовськ, pronounced [nowoɐˈzɔu̯sʲk]; Russian: Новоазовск, pronounced [nəvəɐˈzofsk]) is a border city on the south-eastern tip of Ukraine (near the border with Russia),[1] in Kalmiuske Raion, in Donetsk Oblast. Since 2014, it has been occupied by Donetsk People's Republic and then Russia.

Novoazovsk and adjacent areas are the only places in Ukraine where the great black-headed gull (Larus ichthyaetus) lives.[2]

Etymology

  • 1849–1923 Novonikolayevska (Novomykolaivska)
  • 1923–1959 Budyonivka (Budionnivka)
  • 1959–present Novoazovsk

History

Beginning in mid-April 2014 pro-Russian separatists captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast;[3] including Novoazovsk.[4] In June 2014 Ukrainian forces reportedly secured the city from the separatists.[4] The situation around the town then became relatively quiet.[4] On 25 August 2014, Ukraine claimed that Russian soldiers disguised as separatists had opened a new front in the War in Donbass with an offensive against Mariupol.[5] Ukraine claimed it had blocked this offensive near Novoazovsk.[5] Fighting in the area continued on 26 August 2014.[6] According to a Ukrainian Dnipro Battalion commander, Novoazovsk was overrun by Russian tanks and fell to the Russians on 27 August.[4] This claim was confirmed by Ukrainian authorities the next day. On the other hand, separatist leaders on the same day claimed that the town was taken by separatist forces as part of an offensive against Mariupol.[7]

Geography

Climate

The climate in Novoazovsk is a hot/warm summer subtype (Köppen: Dfa) of the humid continental climate.

Climate data for Novoazovsk
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0
(32)
1
(34)
6
(43)
13
(55)
20
(68)
25
(77)
28
(82)
27
(81)
21
(70)
14
(57)
6
(43)
1
(34)
28
(82)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5
(23)
−5
(23)
0
(32)
6
(43)
12
(54)
16
(61)
18
(64)
18
(64)
12
(54)
7
(45)
1
(34)
−4
(25)
−5
(23)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 41.1
(1.62)
38.9
(1.53)
42.1
(1.66)
49.1
(1.93)
33.8
(1.33)
59.2
(2.33)
40.0
(1.57)
34.5
(1.36)
51.6
(2.03)
35.0
(1.38)
54.7
(2.15)
52.3
(2.06)
532.3
(20.96)
Average precipitation days 15 13 14 12 10 11 8 7 10 10 14 14 138
Source: World Weather Online[8]

Demographics

As of the Ukrainian national census in 2001, Novoazovsk had a population of 12,723 people. The majority of the population is ethnically Ukrainian, yet Russian is the most common language in the city. The exact ethnic and linguistic composition was as follows:[9][10]

Ethnic groups in Novoazovsk
percent
Ukrainians
58.00%
Russians
38.87%
Greeks
1.02%
Belarusians
0.55%
Tatars
0.17%
Georgians
0.15%
Armenians
0.09%
Moldovans
0.08%
Native languages in Novoazovsk
percent
Russian
76.4%
Ukrainian
22.9%
Belarusian
0.1%
others
0.3%

Currently, population of the city was estimated to 11,051 (2022 estimate)[11] inhabitants.

References


47°6′42″N 38°04′57″E / 47.11167°N 38.08250°E / 47.11167; 38.08250