Kirovsk, Ukraine

Kirovsk ( _uk. Кіровськ) is a city in Luhansk Oblast (privince) of Ukraine. Population is 35,199 (2001).

This is a town with population of ~40000 people. It was founded in 1764. Kirovsk history follows closely the history of industrial development in the Eastern Ukraine. The town grew when coal mines were set up in the area; reaching its peak size in 1980's. The landscape around the town still has pyramid-shaped men made hills, they are the by-products of the coal mine development and make the area look somewhat surreal. The best time to visit Kirovsk is August; a few national and local holiday celebrations take place during this month, such as the Independence Day and the Coal Miner Day. During the holidays the nightlife is booming; there are live concerts performed by regional, sometimes national, artists on the town stadium with lots of festivities in the town park afterwards. A lot of friends and families come to visit at this time so that town's population grows noticeably during the holidays. Popular outdoor activities are hunting in the prairies surrounding Kirovsk; fishing on the near-by lakes. Local terrain is very hilly and has lots of roads and paths that makes it perfect for mountain biking. The area has a few historic sites that include beautiful churches, a museum and a WWII memorial. Town swimming pool is popular among locals and has a gym. Most popular nightlife destinations are the small cafes and the discoteque in the town park that are open only during the summer. Sheriff Bar and Grill is open any time of the year, featuring decent food, live music and a sauna; yes, it is a russian-banya style sauna that has a swimming pool and a steam room. It can be reserved for private use with a food order.