Kirovsk, Luhansk Oblast

Kirovsk
Kirovsk; Кіровськ
	City
; Flag	; Seal
	Kirovsk
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Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Luhansk Oblast
Founded	1764
City status	1962
Area
• Total	34,96 km2 (1,350 sq mi)
Elevation	189 m (620 ft)
Population (2013)
• Total	28,529

Kirovsk (Ukrainian: Кіровськ) is a city in Luhansk Oblast (province) of Ukraine. It is incorporated as a city of oblast significance. Population: 28,529 (2013 est.)^[1].

Kirovsk was founded in 1764. Its 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 the 1980s. The landscape around the town still has pyramid-shaped manmade 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 many festivities in the town park. The town's population would grows noticeably during the holidays when many friends and families come to visit.

Popular outdoor activities are hunting in the prairies surrounding Kirovsk and fishing on the nearby lakes. Local terrain is very hilly and has many 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 discothèque in the town park that are open only during the summer.

Since 2004, Kirovsk has been located on the territory of the Luhansk People's Republic and is not controlled by Ukrainian authorities.^[2]