Sievierodonetsk

The foundation of modern Sievierodonetsk is closely connected with the beginning of construction of the Lysychansk Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant within the limits of Lysychansk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union in 1934. Donets itself was already combined with Lysychansk. The first settlement of workers on the construction site was called Lyskhimstroi, near Donets. In September 1935, the first school was opened in the settlement, a silicate brick plant started production, and the first three residential two-story houses were built. In 1940, there were 47 houses, a school, a club, a kindergarten, a nursery, and 10 buildings of a chemical combine in Lyskhimstroi.

During the Second World War, Lyskhimstroi and surrounding areas were occupied by German forces on 11 July 1942. On 1 February 1943, over half a year later, it was retaken by the 41st Guards Rifle Division and 110th Tank Brigade of the Red Army. Work to restore and expand the Lysychansk Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant began on 10 December 1943 and by 1946, the pre-war housing stock was completely restored, which amounted to 17,000 square meters.

A domestic airport south of the Lyskhimstroi began operations in May 1948, it would undergo major renovations during the early 1960s.

Four new names were proposed for the settlement in 1950: Svetlograd, Komsomolsk-on-Donets, Mendeleevsk and Severodonetsk. It was renamed Severodonetsk, after the Siverskyi Donets River. Severodonetsk would receive the status of an urban settlement the same year. On 1 January 1951, the Lysychansk Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant would produce its first output of ammonium nitrate.[11]

A local newspaper starting publishing in the city in April 1965.[12]

In the war in Donbas, the town was captured in late May 2014 by combined pro-Russian forces, who totaled up to 1,000.[13] According to the Kyiv Post, some locals supported the Russian-backed forces, but most residents suffered extortion, violence and intolerance under a "reign of terror."[14] No Ukrainian presidential election in 2014 was held in the city as the separatists did not allow the voting places to open and much of Election Commission's property was either stolen or destroyed. On 22 July 2014, Ukrainian forces regained control of the city.[14][15] Heavy fighting continued around the city for a number of days; on 23 July 2014 the National Guard of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Army released a statement that said they were "continuing the cleansing of Sievierodonetsk".[16][17]

A bridge across Siverskyi Donets river was severely damaged during the war in 2014; it was re-opened in December 2016. The European Union contributed 93.8% of the funding for the restoration.[18]

In 2016, there was a proposal in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, to rename the city Siverskodonetsk (Ukrainian: Сіверськодонецьк), changing the Russian exonym to a native Ukrainian version with the same meaning.[19]

Smoke from shelling of the center of Sievierodonetsk by Russian forces, 30 May 2022

During the larger battle of Donbas of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sievierodonetsk became the center of intense fighting and media attention. In May, Russian forces made Sievierdonetsk its major focus in an attempt to capture Luhansk Oblast. On 31 May, the city's mayor stated that Russian forces had seized control of half of the city.[20] By 14 June, Russian forces had control of 80% of the city and had cut off all escape routes.[21][22] On 24 June, the Ukrainian government ordered its forces to withdraw from Sievierodonetsk.[23]

On 26 June, Russian Defense Minister Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov stated the LNR People's Militia and Russian Armed Forces had "completely liberated the cities of Severodonetsk and Borovskoye as well as populated localities Voronovo and Sirotino in the Lugansk People's Republic".[2]