Donets'k, (Ukrainian Donetske), formerly Stalino, city, southeastern Ukraine, on the Kal'mius River. The capital of Donets'ka Oblast, it is the largest city and chief industrial center of the Donets Basin. Among the city's principal manufactures are iron and steel, chemicals, machinery, electric equipment, and processed food. Donets'k has a symphony orchestra, an opera house, and several major institutions of higher education and research.
The city was founded in 1870, when a British manufacturer, John Hughes, received a concession from the Russian government to manufacture iron rails here. The community was named Yuzovka (also spelled Hughesovka) in his honor. The city grew rapidly in the 1920s. During World War II German troops occupied and severely damaged the city from 1941 to 1943. It was known as Stalino from 1924 to 1961, when the present name was adopted. Population (1998 estimate) 1,065,000.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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