Hirnyk, Donetsk Oblast

The city of Hirnyk is situated on the Vovcha River (a left tributary of the Samara River in the Dnieper basin) on the western slope of the Donetsk Ridge, about 15 kilometers southeast of Selydove, to which it is connected by a road. The {{ill|Tsukurikha train station|uk|Цукуриха|v=ib}}, located in the village of Tsukuryne, is 7 kilometers away.{{Cite web |title=Горняк |url=https://girnyk.dn.ua/ru/gorod/gornyak |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Шахтёрский край |language=ru-RU}} Hirnyk is located {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} west of Donetsk.

Hirnyk has its origins in the miner's settlement Sotsmistechko{{efn|{{langx|uk|link=no|Соцмістечко}}}} (sometimes referred to as Sotshorodok{{efn|{{langx|uk|link=no|Соцгородок}}}}), which was founded in 1938 parallel to the construction of coal mines around the city of Kurakhove (Mines No. 40, 42, and 43). These mines were developed as part of the Soviet government's push to expand coal production in the western Donbas to meet the growing energy needs of the state. in March 1938, construction of the mines began, with workers settling nearby. By the end of 1938, the "Donbaszhytlobud" construction firm had built sixty one-storey houses for the miners to lived in. By January 1939, 860 people lived in Sotsmistechko, and coal production started. During 1939, an elementary school, an outpatient clinic, recreational club, and two stores were built in the settlement. Two more mines were under construction, one becoming operational in April 1940. As of summer 1941, the population had grown to 5,000. Coal production steadily increased, and by the time World War II broke out, the mine produced hundreds tons of coal daily.{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Гірник, Донецька область |encyclopedia=The History of Cities and Villages of the Ukrainian SSR |url=https://ukrssr.com.ua/donetska/girnik-donetska-oblast |language=uk |trans-title=Hirnyk, Donetsk Oblast}}

During World War II, as the Axis forces advanced on Sotsmistechko and the threat of occupation by Nazi Germany loomed, much of the male population was drafted for the Soviet war effort. Non-mobilized citizens were evacuated to Karaganda in Kazakhstan, and any industrial equipment that could be moved was taken inland. Anything that could not be taken out was destroyed, and both of the functioning mines were blown up by local communists. The city was captured by Nazi German forces on 20 October 1941, who instituted a repressive and violent occupation, murdering prisoners of war at a hill near Sotsmistechko. The Nazis forced all residents from the age of 14 as well as prisoners of war to begin rebuilding the destroyed mines, but were largely unsuccessful to return either of them to functionality during the occupation, with only small amounts of coal being extracted from the pits. Metals and resources needed for the war effort were forcibly taken.

Small groups of Soviet partisans fought back against the occupation, several of them were killed in a minefield near {{ill|Rai-Oleksandrivka, Donetsk Oblast|uk|Рай-Олександрівка (Краматорський район)}}. Retreating, the Nazi forces completely destroyed all mines, production buildings and structures, flooded underground workings and burned many residential buildings. Hundreds of Soviet prisoners of war died of hunger and abuse by the Nazis in two camps located in the village and mine. Dozens of sick Nazis were burned alive in the barracks. In On 8 September 1943, Sotsmistechko was recaptured by detachments of the 257th Rifle Division of the Red Army during the broader Soviet counteroffensive in the Donbas.

After the end of the war, reconstruction and expansion of the settlement and its mines was prioritised by the Soviet government, with the mines being reinstated by 1944, passing pre-war production levels by 1946. On 30 May 1947, Sotsmistechko was given urban-type settlement status. On 27 September 1958, Sotsmistechko was administratively merged with its neighboring settlements (Prommaidanchyk, Zhovtneve, Peremoha, Pershotravneve, Komsomolske) to create a new city named Hirnyk with a population of 11,000.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Hirnyk's industry expanded with the modernization of coal mining infrastructure, which greatly increased the output to thousands of tons a day. The industry diversified with the construction of a cinder block factory, a construction materials plant, a bread factory, a non-alcoholic drinks factory, and a division of the construction holding "Artemzhytlobud". In 1960, Hirnyk residents erected a monument at the site where the Nazis had murdered Soviet prisoners of war. In 1969, an inter-city station was built in Hirnyk, and the city grew to a population or over 16,000. Numerous state-owned apartment buildings, schools, hospitals and cultural centers were constructed.

In 2014, after the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine that brought in a more pro-Western government, Russia initiated the war in Donbas, sponsoring pro-Russian militant proxy groups that seized territory in eastern Ukraine. On 29 October 2014, the Security Service of Ukraine detained a group of three militants loyal to the pro-Russian militant organization Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), and seized a militant weapons cache.{{Cite news |date=2014-10-31 |title=СБУ знешкодила групу бойовиків та вилучила арсенал зброї на Донбасі |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-other_news/1723559-sbu_zneshkodila_grupu_boyovikiv_ta_viluchila_arsenal_zbroii_na_donbasi_1986814.html |access-date=2024-01-10 |language=uk|work=Ukrinform}} On 13 February 2015, pro-Russian militants shelled Hirnyk with Grad missiles, killing three civilians.{{Cite news |url=http://espreso.tv/news/2015/02/13/mvs_terorysty_obstrilyally_selysche_hirnyk_na_donechchyni__zahynulo_troye_lyudey |title=МВС: Терористи обстріляли селище Гірник на Донеччині, загинуло троє людей |trans-title=MVC: Terrorists shelled the town of Hirnyk in Donechchyna, killing three people| access-date=13 February 2015 |archive-date=13 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213203324/http://espreso.tv/news/2015/02/13/mvs_terorysty_obstrilyally_selysche_hirnyk_na_donechchyni__zahynulo_troye_lyudey|date=13 February 2015|work=Espreso TV|language=uk|url-status=live}} On 30 September 2018, the {{ill|Hirnyk TV Tower|uk|Гірницька телевежа}} was built in the city, with the purpose of broadcasting Ukrainian television programs to the Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast. With a height of {{convert|190|m|ft}}, it is the tallest of its kind built since the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union in 1991.{{Cite news|url=https://rubryka.com/2018/09/30/na-donechchyni-z-yavylas-televezha-yaka-zabezpechyt-ukrayinske-movlennya-v-ordlo/|title=На Донеччині з'явилась телевежа, яка забезпечить українське мовлення в ОРДЛО|trans-title=In Donechchyna, a television tower has been established that will provide Ukrainian broadcasting in the ORDLO|date=2018-09-30|language=uk-UA|work=Rubryka|access-date=2018-10-02|archive-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930231413/https://rubryka.com/2018/09/30/na-donechchyni-z-yavylas-televezha-yaka-zabezpechyt-ukrayinske-movlennya-v-ordlo/|url-status=live}}

On 12 June 2020, as part of Ukraine's 2020 administrative reforms, Hirnyk was assigned to Kurakhove urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine.{{cite web |title=Про визначення адміністративних центрів та затвердження територій територіальних громад Донецької області |trans-title=Regarding the determination of administrative centers and extents of territorial hromadas of Donetsk Oblast|url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/710-2020-р#Text |website=Офіційний портал Верховної Ради України |access-date=6 September 2021 |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506013828/https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/710-2020-р#Text |url-status=live|language=uk}} On July 18 the same year, Hirnyk, along with the rest of the hromada, became part of an expanded Pokrovsk Raion.{{Cite news |date=2020-07-18 |title=Про утворення та ліквідацію районів |url=http://www.golos.com.ua/article/333466 |access-date=2024-01-10 |work=Holos Ukrayiny |language=uk|trans-title=Regarding the formation and liquidation of raions}}

On 12 December 2022, during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia shelled Hirnyk, killing two people and wounding ten others. Ukrainian authorities begun investigating the shelling as a war crime.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3632528-obstril-girnika-na-doneccini-zaginuli-dvoe-civilnih-se-desat-poraneni.html|title=Обстріл Гірника на Донеччині: загинули двоє цивільних, ще десять поранені|trans-title=Shelling of Hirnyk in Donechchyna: Two civilians were killed, ten others injured|work=Ukrinform|date=12 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206074119/https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3632528-obstril-girnika-na-doneccini-zaginuli-dvoe-civilnih-se-desat-poraneni.html|archive-date=2023-02-06|url-status=live|access-date=20 February 2023|language=uk}} On 3 January 2024, Russia shelled Hirnyk again, injuring a sixteen-year-old boy.{{Cite news |date=2024-01-03 |title=Армія РФ з артилерії обстріляла Гірник на Донеччині, поранений підліток |trans-title=The army of the Russian Federation struck Hirnyk in Donechchyna with artillery, injuring a teenager|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3808460-armia-rf-z-artilerii-obstrilala-girnik-na-doneccini-poranenij-pidlitok.html |access-date=2024-01-10 |work=Ukrinform |language=uk}}

As claimed by a Ukrainian military officer, most of the remaining residents in Hirnyk are so-called "jdouny", people waiting for and being sympathetic to the Russian Armed Forces, sometimes assisting them. The few hundred residents left reject this label. A great majority of FM frequencies in and near Hirnyk broadcast pro-Russian and Soviet nostalgic content from Donetsk, overpowering Ukrainian TV and FM signals.{{Cite web|date=18 July 2024|first=Emmanuel|last=Grynszpan|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/07/18/in-the-donbas-an-invisible-gulf-between-the-ukrainian-military-and-civilians-accused-of-waiting-for-russia_6688193_4.html|title=In the Donbas, an invisible gulf between the Ukrainian military and civilians accused of 'waiting for Russia'|website=Le Monde}}

In early September 2024, Hirnyk became a frontline city of the war. As part of an offensive effort to capture Pokrovsk, Russian forces neared the outskirts of Hirnyk, Ukrainsk and Selydove, capturing nearby settlements.{{Cite web|url=https://deepstatemap.live/#14/48.0556522/37.3730850|title=Hirnyk, Donetsk Oblast|website=DeepStateMap.Live|date=8 September 2024}} Some civilians were evacuated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3903242-police-evacuate-six-children-from-hirnyk-donetsk-region.html|title=Police evacuate six children from Hirnyk, Donetsk region|date=8 September 2024|website=Ukrinform}} Russian forces were confirmed to have entered the northern part of the city by 26 September.{{cite web|title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 26, 2024 |last1=Kagan |first1=Frederick W. |last2=Zehrung|first2=Haley|last3=Stepanenko |first3=Kateryna|last4=Bailey|first4=Riley|last5=Evans|first5=Angelica|work=Institute for the Study of War |date=26 September 2024 |access-date=26 September 2024 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-26-2024}} By 20 October, the Russian forces also occupied the north-western portion of the city.{{Cite web |title=The enemy occupied Zhelanne Druhe and advanced in Vyshneve, Hirnyk, near Olhivka and Lyubymivka. The area of Vozdvyzhenka has been clarified. |url=https://deepstatemap.live/#13/48.0546769/37.3705101 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=DeepStateMap |language=uk-UA}} Russian sources claimed that the city had been captured on 26 October.{{cite web|title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 26, 2024 |last1=Kagan |first1=Frederick W. |last2=Gasparyan|first2=Davit|last3=Stepanenko |first3=Kateryna|last4=Wolkov|first4=Nicole|last5=Evans|first5=Angelica|work=Institute for the Study of War |date=26 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-26-2024}} On 27 October, the occupation of Hirnyk was confirmed by DeepStateMap.Live.{{Cite web |title=The enemy occupied Hirnyk and advanced in Selydove, Bohoyavlivka, Novoukrainka, near Shakhtarske and Novooleksiyivka. |url=https://deepstatemap.live/en#6/49.4383200/32.0526800 |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=DeepStateMap |language=uk-UA}}

The city contains the "Kurakhivska" coal mine, which is owned by the state enterprise "Selydovvuhillia". Additionally, some residents are employed at nearby enterprises, including the Pokrovs'ke coal mine, Pivdennodonbasska Mine (Vuhledar), and the Kurakhivska Central Processing Plant in Kurakhivka. It also used to have another coal mine named "Hirnyk", but that one is now defunct.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The closest train station Tsukurykha is located {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} away from the city. From it through the city railways stretch to the Kurakhove group of mines.

{{Historical populations

| title= Population history

| align = right

| direction =

| percentages =

| cols = 2

| 1939 | 860

| 1941 | 5000

| 1958 | 10985

| 1970 | 14646{{Cite web |url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/ukraine-cities.htm |title=Україна / Ukrajina |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=22 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722121934/http://pop-stat.mashke.org/ukraine-cities.htm |url-status=live|language=uk, en}}

| 1979 | 14745

| 1989 | 16203

| 2001 | 14207

| 2011 | 11822

| 2022 | 10357

}}

As of the 2001 Ukrainian census, Hirnyk had a population of 14,207 people, of whom the majority identified as ethnic Ukrainians, while Russians make up a large minority. In terms of religion, there are followers of several denominations, including the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Evangelical Christian Baptists, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Гірник |trans-title=Hirnyk|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine |publisher=NASU Institute of Encyclopaedic Research |url=https://esu.com.ua/article-30220 |last=Архипенко |first=В. Г. |date=2006-02-01 |volume=5 |language=Ukrainian |isbn=978-966-02-2074-4}}

{{bar box|title=Ethnic groups in Hirnyk|titlebar=#ddd|left1=|right1=percent|bars={{bar percent|Ukrainians|dodgerblue|56.43}}

{{bar percent|Russians|purple|40.01}}

{{bar percent|Belarusians|red|0.95}}

{{bar percent|Tatars|olive|0.89}}

{{bar percent|Ukrainian Greeks|lightblue|0.40}}

{{bar percent|Moldovans|pink|0.17}}

{{bar percent|Georgians|yellow|0.17}}

{{bar percent|Azerbaijanis|green|0.10}}

{{bar percent|Armenians|brown|0.09}}}} {{cite web | url=https://datatowel.in.ua/pop-composition/ethnic-cities | title=Національний склад міст }}

Hirnyk's cultural infrastructure includes the Vocational School No. 144, three secondary schools (Nos. 17, 18, and 19), and three kindergartens (Malysh, Ryabinka, and Topolek). The city also has an outpatient clinic, a nursing home, a Palace of Culture, a children's music school, a Palace of Childhood, the Avangard Stadium, and a sports club named after Shvedchenko.

The following attractions and sights are located in the city of Hirnyk: the Holy Cross Church, Avangard Stadium, a children's playground, the Monument to a grieving mother (mass grave), the Monument to the Unknown Soldier (mass grave), City square, the Memorial to fallen miners and the Monument to the liberators of Donbas.

File:Mine "Kurakhovskaya" SE "Selidovugol".png|"Kurakhovskaya" mine

File:Monument to the Unknown Soldier (Hirnyk).png|Monument to the Unknown Soldier

File:Monument to a grieving mother (Hirnyk).png|Monument to a grieving mother

File:Memorial to the fallen miners (Hirnyk).png|Memorial to the fallen miners

File:Holy Cross Church (Hirnyk).png|Holy Cross Church

File:Avangard Stadium (Hirnyk).png|Avangard Stadium

File:Children's playground (Hirnyk).png|Children's playground

File:Hirnyk_City_entrance_sign.png|City entrance sign

• Denys Kozhanov (born 1987), Ukrainian footballer
• Serhiy Mazur (born 1970), Ukrainian footballer
• Vasyl Mazur (born 1970), Ukrainian footballer

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{{Pokrovsk Raion}}

{{Donetsk Oblast}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Donetsk Oblast

Category:Populated places established in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Category:Cities of district significance in Ukraine

Category:1938 establishments in Ukraine

Category:Populated places established in 1938

Category:Mining cities and regions in Ukraine

Category:Kurakhove urban hromada