Ichnia

Ichnia (Ukrainian: І́чня, pronounced [ˈitʃnʲɐ]) is a town in Chernihiv Oblast of Ukraine, located on the Ichenka River. It is the center of Ichnia Raion. Population is 10,709 (2020 est.)[1]

Ichnia Ічня
Town
Church of Transfiguration on the river Ichen’ka
Flag Coat of arms
Ichnia Location of Ichnia Ichnia Ichnia (Ukraine)
Coordinates: 50°51′00″N 32°24′00″E
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Chernihiv Oblast
Raion	Ichnia Raion
Founded	14th century
City status on	1957
Area
• Total	16.16 km^2 (6.24 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,709
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	16700-16703
Area code(s)	+380-4633
Website	http://ichadm.cg.gov.ua

History

The city got its name from the river named Ichena (or Ichen'), which was in time renamed into Ichen’ka.

The first information about Ichnia dates back to the 14th century. From the 14th to 16th centuries, it was ruled by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In the middle of the 16th century, Ichnia was granted with the status of a market town. In 1666, a town hall was built. Probably at this time, the Ichnia's castle was built. Residents of the city participated in the struggle against the Swedish army of Charles XII of Sweden during the Great Northern War.

In 1748, Ichnia's 20 households belonged to Knyaz N. Saakadze, and 119 households - Colonel from Pryluky G. Galagan. The town had a distillery, 6 water mills, and a brickyard.

Vasily Sternberg. Fair in Ichnia (1830s)

As of 1788, three annual fairs were held in Ichnia, in which residents traded bread, cattle, victuals, and wooden utensils.

There were four schools in Ichnia in the 18th century.

In 1812, the Cossacks of Ichnia fought in the Chernigov Regiment during French invasion of Russia.

At the beginning of the 19th century, landowner G. Galagan founded a cloth factory in the town, as well as a sugar factory, 2 distilleries, brick factories, and saltpeter factories.

In 1894, the town was included into a local railroad connection. In 1897, there were four stone churches. The town operated a post office, hospital, rural and ministerial school, and library.

In 1957, Ichnia received the status of a town.

Nowadays, the leading industry in Ichnia is the food industry (alcohol, tobacco, feed mill, canning, and cheese-milk powder).

In October 2018, Ichnya became an epicenter of massive fire following an explosion at the munitions depot of the 6th Arsenal (military unit A-1479).[2][3] More than 12,500 people were evacuated and a no-fly zone was established.[4] The fire lasted for 23 days.[4] According to the Ukrainian authorities sabotage was the cause of the explosions.[4]

Notable natives

Sonia Greene (16 March 1883 - 26 December 1972) - a one-time pulp fiction writer and amateur publisher, a single mother, business woman, and successful milliner, who bankrolled several fanzines in the early 20th century.

Ivan Martos (1754 — 5 April 1835) - a Russian sculptor and art teacher of Ukrainian origin, who helped awaken Russian interest in Neoclassical sculpture.

References

1. "Чисельність наявного населення України (Actual population of Ukraine)" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
2. Digital Forensic Research Lab (October 23, 2018). "#MinskMonitor: Ichnya Ammunition Depot Explosion". Medoim.
3. "Thousands Evacuated As Blasts, Blaze Rip Through Ukraine Ammo Dump". REF/RL. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
4. Massive fire at Ukraine's ammo depot result of sabotage – prosecutors, UNIAN (7 November 2018)

External links

• Ichnia, Chernihiv Oblast. Official portal of the Parliament of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada)
• Official site of the State Administration of Ichnia Raion
• The murder of the Jews of Ichnia during World War II, at Yad Vashem website.