City (pop., 2001: 1,029,000), southwestern Ukraine.
A Tatar fortress was established in Odessa in the 14th century. The city was ceded to Russia in 1791 and became its second most important port after Saint Petersburg , with grain as its principal export. It was a centre of revolutionary activity in 1905 (see Russian Revolution of 1905 ), and it suffered heavy damage in World War II. Odessa is a major seaport and industrial centre, with shipbuilding, engineering, and oil refineries. It is also a cultural centre, with a university, museums, and theatres.