Mariupolis acity of regional significancein southeasternUkraine, situated on the north coast of theSea of Azovat the mouth of the Kalmius river. It is the tenth-largest city in Ukraineand the second largest in theDonetsk Oblast.The city is largely and traditionally Russophone, while ethnically population is divided between Russians and Ukrainians about 50/50.
Mariupol has been a centre for the grain trade, metallurgy, and heavy engineering. TheIlyich Steel & Iron Works and Azovstal propelled Mariupol onto the European stage in the 20th century as one of the largest and most productive plants.The city played a key role in theindustrialization of Ukraine. Due to the Soviet authorities frequently renaming cities after Communist leaders,the city was known asZhdanov, after the Soviet functionaryAndrei Zhdanov, between 1948 and 1989. Today, Mariupol remains a centre for industry, as well as higher education and business, a legal centre,and the economic engine ofPryazovia.