VELIKIYE LUKI

also spelled Velikie Luki, or Velikije Luki, city, Pskov oblast (province), western Russia, situated on the Lovat River. Founded by 1166, the city was sacked by Lithuanians in 1198, by King Stephen Bthory of Poland in 1581, and by the Swedes in 1611. Today an important railway junction, it has industries that include locomotive and rolling-stock repair, engineering, and consumer-goods production. Pop. (1994 est.) 116,200.