PINSK

city, Brest oblast (province), Belarus, situated at the confluence of the Pina and Pripet rivers. Pinsk was first mentioned in 1097 and was the seat of a Russian princedom. It passed under Lithuanian rule (13th16th century), then Polish (15691793), Russian (1793World War I), Polish again (192039), and then Soviet (with German occupation during 194144). Pinsk lies at the eastern end of the Dneprovsko-Bugsky Canal and is a significant river port. There are woodworking industries, metalworking, manufacture of artificial leather, and shipbuilding and repair yards. Pop. (1991 est.) 123,800.