Reni, Ukraine

Reni ( _uk. Рені; _ro. Reni; _ru. Рени) is a small town in the Odessa Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Reniysky Raion (district), and is located in the Bessarabian historic district of Budjak. The settlement was founded around 1548, acquiring city status in 1821.

The current estimated population is around 20,000. The surrounding Reniysky Raion includes some 41,000 people, 49% of them ethnic Moldovans, 18% Ukrainians, 15% Russians, 8.5% Bulgarians and 8% Gagauz. [ [http://www.ukrcensus.gov.ua/eng/results/general/nationality/Odesa/ 2001 All Ukrainian population census results for Odessa Region] ] ]

A railway linking Moldova and Romania passes through Reni, since the city was a part of Romania prior to 1947, when it was claimed by the Soviet Union. There are six schools, one filial branch of the Dnipropetrovsk University, and three churches.

Personalities

* Pavel Ciobanu, Moldovan soccer player
* [http://www.zaets.h.com.ua/Indexe.html Dmitry Zaets] Reni's painter

References