City (pop., 2001: 241,000), capital of Chernigov oblast, Ukraine.
It lies northeast of Kiev on the Desna River. Mentioned as early as AD 907, it became the capital of Chernigov principality in the 11th century, when its cathedral was built. Chernigov lost importance after the Tatar invasion (1239–40) and remained a minor provincial centre until modern times, when it developed as a railway junction.