KHMELNYTSKYY

Russian Khmelnitsky, formerly (until 1954) Kamenets-podolsky, oblast (province), western Ukraine. The oblast extends across the Volyn-Podilsk Upland and slopes gently down in the south to the Dniester River. The oblast's natural forest-steppe vegetation has been almost wholly plowed up; intensive erosion has ensued, and a network of gullies is widespread. The economy of Khmelnytskyy is overwhelmingly agricultural, and approximately one-half of the population is rural. The oblast is one of the principal sugar-beet-growing areas of Ukraine. Grains, chiefly winter wheat and corn (maize), and sunflowers, vegetables, and tobacco are also important. Dairying, pig keeping, and fruit growing are well developed, especially in the Dniester River valley. Communities, apart from the capital, Khmelnytskyy, are small and engaged chiefly in processing agricultural products, especially in sugar refining. Area 8,000 square miles (20,600 square km). Pop. (1994 est.) 1,525,500. Russian Khmelnitsky, formerly (until 1954) Proskurov, city and administrative centre of Khmelnytskyy oblast (province), western Ukraine. It lies along the upper Southern (Pivdennyy) Buh River. Originally a Polish military post, it dates from the late 15th century. The fort was seized by Cossacks during the mid-17th century. In 1793 it passed to Russia by the Second Partition of Poland, and in 1795 city status was conferred on it. The modern city is a rail junction on the Odessa-Lviv and Chernivtsi-Korosten lines and has light-engineering, food-processing, and consumer-goods industries. Its educational and cultural facilities include a technological institute, theatre, and philharmonic hall. Pop. (1994 est.) 256,000.