Homyel', also Gomel' or Homel, city in southeastern Belarus, capital of Homyel' Oblast and a port on the Sozh River. Manufactures in the city include forest products, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, and processed food. Homyel' State University (1969) is located here. First mentioned in 1142 as Gomy, when it was part of Kievan Russia, it passed to Lithuania in the early 16th century. It came under Polish rule in the 17th century and was annexed by Russia in 1772. From 1941 to 1943, during World War II, Homyel' was occupied by the Germans. Population (1996) 500,617.
