city, northern Ukraine. The city lies along the Sula River. It was founded as a Rus fortress in the 11th century. It came under Lithuanian control in the mid-14th century and Polish rule in the early 17th. Later in that century it passed to the Cossack-controlled Hetmanate. It came under direct Russian rule in the late 18th century. In the 20th century it developed varied industries, including engineering and consumer-goods production. An agricultural college and a medical school are located there. Pop. (2001) 50,448; (2005 est.) 48,022.