Bila Tserkva

Bila Tserkva

Bila Tserkva (Ukrainian: Бі́ла Це́рква [ˈbilɐ ˈtsɛrkwɐ] ⓘ; lit. ''White Church'') is a city in Central Ukraine, located on the Ros river in the historical Right Bank region. The largest city in Kyiv Oblast (the territory of Kyiv, the regional capital, doesn't belong to the oblast), it serves as the administrative centre of Bila Tserkva Raion and Bila Tserkva urban hromada[1] and has a population of 207,273 (2022 estimate).[2]. The oldest preserved document that mentions the city, at that time called Yuryiv, is the Ipatiev Chronicle (1115). Historically, it has been the centre of Porossia (River Ros) region. Founded as a border fortification of Kyivan Rus, Bila Tserkva later became property of Polish nobility and served as a prominent commercial centre. Since the 19th century, industry and tourism have been important elements of the city's economy. Under Soviet rule Bila Tserkva became a centre of agricultural education. During the Cold War an major base of the Soviet Air Force was located near the city.