View source for Poltava

{{Other uses}}
{{Lead too short|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{short description|City and administrative center of Poltava Oblast, Ukraine}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Poltava
| native_name        = Полтава
| native_name_lang   = uk
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Ukraine|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage|position=center
 | photo1a = Будинок земства P1230868 пл. Конституції, 2.jpg
 | photo1b = Дзвіниця Здвиженського монастиря 03.jpg
 | photo2a = Kruhla Square - Poltava - Aerial view - 1.jpg
 | photo3a = Біла альтанка (ротонда), Полтава. Фото в кольорах українського прапору.jpg
 | photo3b = Свято-Успенський кафедральний собор, Полтава.jpg
 | size = 290
 | spacing = 2
 | color = #FFFFFF
 | border = 0
}}
| image_caption      = Top left: [[Poltava Governorate Zemstvo Building]], Top right: [[Holy Cross Exaltation Monastery, Poltava|Poltava Holy Cross Monastery]], Center: The Round Square, Bottom left: The White Arbor, Bottom right: Assumption Cathedral
| image_flag         = Flag of Poltava.svg
| image_shield       = Poltava coat.svg
| shield_size        = 75px
| image_blank_emblem = Логотип Полтава.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| pushpin_map        = Ukraine Poltava Oblast#Ukraine
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Poltava in Poltava Oblast.
| image_map          = 
| map_caption        = Location of Poltava in Ukraine
| coordinates        = {{coord|49|35|22|N|34|33|05|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flagu|Ukraine}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Oblasts of Ukraine|Oblast]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Poltava Oblast]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Raions of Ukraine|Raion]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Hromada]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Poltava Raion]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Poltava urban hromada]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 899{{sup|1}}
| established_title2 = City rights
| established_date2  = 
| named_for          = 
| parts_type         = [[#Government and subdivisions|Districts]]
| parts_style        = list
| parts              = 3 [[Urban districts of Ukraine|districts]]
| p1                 = Shevchenkivskyi District
| p2                 = Kyivskyi District
| p3                 = Podilskyi District
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Poltava|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = 
| leader_party       = 
| area_total_km2     = 103
| population_total   = 279593
| population_as_of   = 2023
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro   = 
| timezone           = EET
| utc_offset         = +2
| timezone_DST       = EEST
| utc_offset_DST     = +3
| postal_code_type   = [[Ukrainian postal codes|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 36000—36499
| area_code          = [[+380]]-532(2)
| blank_name         = [[Licence plate]]
| blank_info         = CK, BI
| blank1_name        = [[Town twinning|Sister cities]]
| blank1_info        = {{small|[[Filderstadt]], [[Ostfildern]], [[Veliko Tarnovo]], [[Lublin]], Nice}}
| website            = {{URL|rada-poltava.gov.ua/foreign/}}
| footnotes          = {{sup|1}} The previously believed foundation date was 1174.
| mapframe          = yes
| mapframe-zoom     = 11
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
}}
[[File:Poltava polk.svg|thumb|100px|The shield of the [[Poltava Regiment]], 17th and 18th century]]
[[File:Poltava_regiment_XVIIth_century.svg|thumb|100px|The shield of the [[Poltava Regiment]] headquarters]]

'''<span lang="ab" dir="ltr">Poltava</span>''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|p|ɒ|l|ˈ|t|ɑː|v|ə}},<ref>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Poltava |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182115/https://www.lexico.com/definition/poltava |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Poltava |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|US|p|ə|l|ˈ|-}};<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Poltava|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Poltava|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref> {{langx|uk|Полтава}}, {{IPA|uk|polˈtɑwɐ|IPA|audio=Uk-Полтава.ogg}}) is a city located on the [[Vorskla|Vorskla River]] in [[Central Ukraine|Central]] [[Ukraine]]. It serves as the administrative center of [[Poltava Oblast]] as well as [[Poltava Raion]] within the oblast. It also hosts the administration of [[Poltava urban hromada]], one of the [[hromada]]s of Ukraine.<ref name="admreform_2020_poltava_city">{{cite web |title=Полтавская городская громада |url=https://gromada.info/ru/obschina/poltava/ |publisher=Портал об'єднаних громад України |language=ru}}</ref> Poltava has a population of {{Ua-pop-est2022|279,593|.}}

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Poltava}}
It is still unknown when Poltava was founded, although the town was not attested before 1174. However, municipal authorities chose to celebrate the city's 1100th anniversary in 1999. As part of the 800th anniversary of Poltava celebrations, in 1974, the Urozhai Stadium was reopened after a six year of renovations.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20251022013431/https://poltava.depo.ua/ukr/poltava/stari-kladovischa-dubovi-gayi-ta-aviamistechko-scho-ranishe-bulo-na-misci-poltavskih-parkiv-20171023662558 Іподром та старі кладовища: Що раніше було на місці центральних парків Полтави (#Парк Незалежності)].poltava.depo.ua. 29 October 2017</ref> The settlement is indeed an old one, as archeologists unearthed an ancient [[Paleolithic]] dwelling, as well as [[Scythian]] remains, within the city limits.

===Middle Ages===
The present name of the city is traditionally connected to the settlement Ltava, which is mentioned in the ''[[Hypatian Chronicle]]'' in 1174.<ref name=hop>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160716133914/http://histpol.pl.ua/ru/poltava-istoricheskie-ocherki/khronika-sobytij?id=811 Poltava: chronicles of the most important events]. "History of Poltava" website.</ref><ref>Antipovich, G., Buryak, Voloskov, V., others. ''Poltava: a book for tourists''. Ed.2. "Prapor". Kharkiv, 1989.</ref> According to the chronicle, on Saint Peter's Day (12 July) of 1182, [[Igor Sviatoslavich]], chasing hordes of the Cuman khans Konchak and Kobiak, crossed the [[Vorskla River]] near ''Ltava'' and moved towards [[Pereiaslav]]), where Igor's army was victorious over the Cumans.<ref name=hop/> During the [[Mongol invasion of Rus']] in 1238–39, many cities of the middle Dnipro region were destroyed, possibly including Ltava.<ref name=hop/>

In the mid-14th century the region was part of the Duchy of Kyiv, which was a vassal of the [[Algirdas]]' [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]].<ref name=hop/> According to the Russian historian Aleksandr Shennikov, the region around modern Poltava was a Cuman Duchy belonging to Mansur, who was a son of [[Mamai]].<ref name=shennikov>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160716144055/http://www.zarusskiy.org/history/2008/06/29/mamay/ Duchy of the Mamai's descendants]. Zarusskiy.org. 29 June 2008</ref> Shennikov also claims that the Mansur Duchy joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as an [[associated state]] rather than a [[vassal state]], and that the city of Poltava already existed at that time.<ref name=shennikov/> In 1399, Mansur's army assisted the [[Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army]] in the [[battle of the Vorskla River]]. According to legend, after the battle, the [[Cossack Mamay]] helped [[Vytautas]] to escape death.<ref name=shennikov/>

The city is mentioned for the first time under the name of Poltava no later than 1430.<ref name=hop/> Supposedly, in 1430 the Lithuanian duke [[Vytautas]] gave the city, along with Glinsk (today a village near the city of [[Romny]]) and Glinitsa, to [[Murza]] Olexa (Loxada Mansurxanovich), who moved to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the [[Golden Horde]].<ref name=hop/> In 1430 Murza Olexa was baptized as Alexander Glinsky, who was a progenitor of the [[Glinsky family]].<ref name=hop/> According to Shenninkov, Alexander Glinsky must have been baptized in 1390 by [[Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev|Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kyiv]], who had just regained his title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Russia (rather than the Metropolitan of [[Little Russia|Russia Minor]] and Lithuania). On 6 March 1390 Cyprian permanently moved to [[Grand Duchy of Moscow|Muscovy]].<ref name=shennikov/>

In 1482, Poltava was razed by the Crimean Khan [[Meñli I Giray|Mengli I Giray]].<ref name=hop/>

===Early modern period===
[[File:Battle of Poltava monument 01.jpg|thumb|175px|The Column of Glory commemorates the centenary of the [[Battle of Poltava]] (1709)]]
In 1537 Ografena Vasylivna Glinska (Baibuza) passed Poltava to her son-in-law Mykhailo Ivanovych Hrybunov-Baibuza.<ref name=hop/>

After the [[Union of Lublin]] in 1569, the territory around Poltava became part of the [[Crown of Poland]]. In 1630 Poltava was passed to a Polish magnate, Bartholomew Obalkowski.<ref name=hop/> In 1641 it changed ownership again, to Alexander Koniecpolski.<ref name=hop/> In 1646 Poltava became part of Wiśniowiecki Ordynatsia (a large Wiśniowiecki estate in Left-bank Ukraine centered in [[Lubny]]), governed by the Ruthenian-Polish [[magnate]] [[Jeremi Wiśniowiecki]] (1612–51).<ref name=hop/> 

In 1648, the city became the base of a distinguished regiment of [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] [[Cossacks]], and served as a Cossack stronghold during the [[Khmelnytsky Uprising]].<ref name=hop/> In 1650, to commemorate a victory of the Cossack Host over the Polish army at the [[Poltavka River]], the Metropolitan of Kyiv, [[Sylvester Kossov]], ordered the establishment of the [[Holy Cross Exaltation Monastery, Poltava|Holy Cross Exaltation Monastery]] in Poltava. The project was financed by a number of prominent local residents, including [[Martyn Pushkar]], [[Ivan Iskra]], [[Ivan Kramar]] and many others.<ref name=hop/>

During the 1654 [[Pereyaslav Council]], the Poltava city delegates pledged their allegiance to the Czar of Muscovy, after which [[stolnik]] Andrei Spasitelev arrived in Poltava and recorded 1,335 residents who had pledged their allegiance.<ref name=hop/> In 1658 Poltava became a center of anti-government revolt led by [[Martyn Pushkar]], who contested the legitimacy of [[Ivan Vyhovsky]]'s election to the post of [[Hetman of Zaporizhian Host]].<ref name=hop/> The uprising was extinguished with the help of [[Crimean Tatars]].<ref name=hop/> 

On the issue [[boyar]] [[Vasily Borisovich Sheremetev]] wrote to [[Alexei Mikhailovich]] on 8 June 1658: "... the ''Cherkas'' [Cossack] city of Poltava is ravaged and burned to the ground and only if the Great Sovereign orders to rebuild on the Tatar Sokma (pathway) of [[:ru:Бакаев шлях|Bakeyev Route]] and protect many his sovereign cities from Tatar visits. And if the Great Sovereign allows to place a [[voivode]] in the city and rebuilt the city until the fall that in Poltava ''Cherkasy'' [Cossacks] and residents built their houses and stock-piled their food".<ref name=hop/> With the signing of the 1667 [[truce of Andrusovo]], the city was finally subjected to the [[Tsardom of Muscovy]], while remaining part of the [[Cossack Hetmanate]].

The city suffered from the [[Great Turkish War]] when in 1695 Petro Ivanenko led an anti-Muscovite uprising with the help of [[Crimean Tatars]], who ravaged the local monastery.<ref name=hop/> The same year the [[Poltava Regiment]] actively participated in the [[Azov campaigns (1695–96)|Azov campaigns]] which resulted in the taking of the Turkish fortress of Kyzy-Kermen (today the city of [[Beryslav]], [[Kherson Oblast]]).<ref name=hop/> 

On 8 July (New Style) or 27 June (Old Style) 1709 the [[Battle of Poltava]] took place near the city during the [[Great Northern War]]. The battle ended in a decisive victory of [[Peter I of Russia]] over the [[Sweden|Swedish]] forces.<ref name=hop/> As a result, the [[Swedish Empire]] lost its status as a European great power and the Russian Empire began an era of supremacy in [[eastern Europe]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title= Battle of Poltava|encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Britannica|date= 2022-07-01|last= Field|first= J. F.|publisher= |location= |id= |url= https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Poltava|access-date= }}</ref> In 1710 there was a plague in the city and its surrounding area.<ref name=hop/> In the mid-18th century the Kolomak Woods near Poltava became a base of [[haidamak]]s (Cossack paramilitary bands).<ref name=hop/>

By 1770, Poltava had several brick factories, a regimental doctor, and a pharmacy; that same year the city conducted four fairs.<ref name=hop/> In 1775 it became a city of [[Novorossiysk Governorate]], guarded by the 8th Company of the Dnieper Pike Regiment headquartered in [[Kobeliaky]].<ref name=hop/> In 1775 Poltava's Holy Cross Exaltation Monastery became the seat of bishops of the newly created [[Eparchy]] ([[Diocese]]) of Slaviansk and Kherson. This large new diocese included the lands of the [[Novorossiya]] Governorate and the [[Azov Governorate]] north of the [[Black Sea]].<ref name=bio/><ref name=theo>[http://www.biografija.ru/show_bio.aspx?id=96427 Никифор Феотоки] (Nikephoros Theotoki's biography) {{in lang|ru}}</ref>

Since much of that area had only recently been seized from the [[Ottoman Empire]] by Russia, and a large number of Orthodox Greek settlers had been invited to settle in the region, the [[Russian Empire|imperial government]] selected a renowned Greek scholar, [[Eugenios Voulgaris]], to preside over the new diocese. After his retirement in 1779, he was replaced by another Greek theologian, [[Nikephoros Theotokis]].<ref name=bio>[http://www.biografija.ru/show_bio.aspx?id=39244 Евгений Булгарис] (Eugenios Voulgaris's biography) {{in lang|ru}}</ref><ref name=theo/>
[[File:Poltava 1850 Main Square.PNG|thumb|left|Alexander Square in 1850]]
In 1779 the city established the Poltava county school, which became its first secular educational institution.<ref name=hop/> In 1787 [[Catherine the Great]] stopped in Poltava on the way from [[Crimea]], escorted by [[Grigori Potemkin]], [[Alexander Suvorov]] and [[Mikhail Kutuzov]].<ref name=hop/> In Poltava, on 7 June 1787, before another [[Russo-Turkish War (1787–92)|Russo-Turkish War]], Potemkin received his title "Prince of Taurida", while Suvorov received a [[snuffbox]] with monogram.<ref name=hop/> In 1802 the city became the seat of the newly established [[Poltava Governorate]].<ref name=hop/> The city's population in 1802 consisted of some 8,000 residents.<ref name=hop/> That same year Poltava opened a government-funded hospital of 20 beds.<ref name=hop/>

===19th century===
[[File:City of Poltava 1857 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Map of Poltava 1857]]
[[File:Хресна хода в Полтаві 1909.jpg|thumb|The 200th Anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Poltava in June 1909]]
On 2 February 1808, the Poltava Male Gymnasium was established.<ref name=hop/> On 20 June 1808 some 54 families of craftsmen were invited to the city from German principalities and settled in the newly established German Sloboda neighborhood with about 50 clay-made houses.<ref name=hop/> In 1810 there were 8,328 people living in Poltava;<ref name=hop/> that same year, the city's first theater was built.<ref name=hop/> In August 1812, on orders of Little Russia Governor General [[Yakov Lobanov-Rostovsky (1760–1831)|Lobanov-Rostovsky]], the famed Ukrainian writer and statesman [[Ivan Kotlyarevsky]] formed the 5th Poltava Cavalry Cossack Regiment.<ref name=hop/>

By 1860, Poltava had around 30,000 inhabitants, a district school, a gymnasium, an [[Institute for Noble Maidens]], a spiritual academy, a [[cadet corps]], a library and a number of schools. In 1870, [[Poltava-Pivdenna railway station|Poltava railway station]] was opened, leading to rapid economic growth in the region. However, by 1914 the Population of Poltava (around 60,000) was mostly working in small enterprises. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Poltava became an important cultural centre, where many representatives of [[Ukrainian National Revival|Ukrainian national revival]] were active.

===20th century===
[[File:Музей дальньої авіації.jpg|thumb|The [[Poltava Museum of Long-Range and Strategic Aviation]]]]
During the [[Ukrainian War of Independence|events of 1917–1920]], Poltava was under the rule of a number of governments, including the [[Central Rada]], [[Ukrainian State|Hetmanate]], [[Ukrainian People's Republic]], [[White Movement]] and [[Bolshevik]]s. From 1918 to 1919 there was [[occupation of Poltava by the Bolsheviks (1918—1919)|Occupation of Poltava by the Bolsheviks]]. After becoming a part of [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic]], Poltava experienced accelerated industrial growth, and its population increased to 130,000 by 1939.

In [[World War II]], the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] ''[[Wehrmacht]]'' [[Reichskommissariat Ukraine|occupied]] Poltava from 18 September 1941 until 23 September 1943, when it was retaken during the Chernigov-Poltava Strategic Offensive of the [[Battle of the Dnieper]]. During the Nazi occupation the Jewish population (9.9% of the total population in 1939) was imprisoned in a [[ghetto]] before being murdered during mass executions perpetrated by an [[Einsatzgruppen|Einsatzgruppe]] and buried in mass graves in the area.<ref name="yadvashem">{{cite web|url=http://www.yadvashem.org/untoldstories/database/index.asp?cid=515|publisher=yadvashem.org|title=The Untold Stories. The Murder Sites of the Jews in the Occupied Territories of the Former USSR|access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> 

By the summer of 1944, the [[United States Army Air Forces]] conducted a number of [[shuttle bombing]] raids against Nazi Germany under the name of [[Operation Frantic]]. [[Poltava Air Base]], as well as [[Myrhorod Air Base]], were used as eastern locations for landing [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17 Flying Fortress]] heavy bombers involved in those operations.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

The post-war restoration of Poltava continued in the 1950s and 1960s. The city became an important centre of military education in the [[Soviet Union]], where missile and communications officers were prepared, and was also home to a [[Soviet Air Force]] division of heavy bombers.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

Until 18 July 2020, Poltava was designated as a [[City of regional significance (Ukraine)|city of oblast significance]] and did not belong to Poltava Raion even though it was the center of the raion. As part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Poltava Oblast to four, the city was merged into Poltava Raion.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Про утворення та ліквідацію районів. Постанова Верховної Ради України № 807-ІХ.|url=http://www.golos.com.ua/article/333466|access-date=2020-10-03|date=2020-07-18|website=Голос України|language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Нові райони: карти + склад |date=17 July 2020 |url=https://www.minregion.gov.ua/press/news/novi-rajony-karty-sklad/ |publisher=Міністерство розвитку громад та територій України |language=uk}}</ref>

== Population ==
<div class=skin-invert><timeline>
ImageSize = width:900 height:300
PlotArea = left:50 right:20 top:25 bottom:30
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AlignBars = late
Colors =
  id:linegrey2 value:gray(0.9)
  id:linegrey value:gray(0.7)
  id:cobar value:rgb(0.2,0.7,0.8)
  id:cobar2 value:rgb(0.6,0.9,0.6)
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:0 till:320000
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:40000 start:0 gridcolor:linegrey
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:10000 start:0 gridcolor:linegrey2
PlotData =
  color:cobar width:19 align:left
  bar:1775 from:0 till:7527
  bar:1802 from:0 till:7975
  bar:1840 from:0 till:15521
  bar:1851 from:0 till:20819
  bar:1867 from:0 till:31900
  bar:1897 from:0 till:53703
  bar:1913 from:0 till:64200
  bar:1923 from:0 till:84580
  bar:1926 from:0 till:89391
  bar:1939 from:0 till:128456
  bar:1959 from:0 till:143097
  bar:1970 from:0 till:219873
  bar:1979 from:0 till:278931
  bar:1989 from:0 till:314740
  bar:2001 color:cobar2 from:0 till:317998
  bar:2014 from:0 till:295950
  bar:2017 from:0 till:291963
  bar:2020 from:0 till:284110
PlotData=
  textcolor:black fontsize:S
  bar:1775 at: 7527 text: 7527 shift:(-14,5)
  bar:1802 at: 7975 text: 7975 shift:(-14,5)
  bar:1840 at: 15521 text: 15.521 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1851 at: 20819 text: 20.819 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1867 at: 31900 text: 31.900 shift:(-14,5)
  bar:1897 at: 53703 text: 53.703 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1913 at: 64200 text: 64.200 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1923 at: 84580 text: 84.580 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1926 at: 89391 text: 89.391 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1939 at: 128456 text: 128.456 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1959 at: 143097 text: 143.097 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1970 at: 219873 text: 219.873 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1979 at: 278931 text: 278.931 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:1989 at: 314740 text: 314.740 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:2001 at: 317998 text: 317.998 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:2014 at: 295950 text: 295.950 shift:(-17,5)
  bar:2017 at: 291963 text: 291.963 shift:(-11,5)
  bar:2020 at: 284110 text: 284.110 shift:(-11,5)

</timeline></div>{{historical populations|1897|53703|1926|89391|1939|130487|1959|143097|1970|219873|1979|278931|1989|314740|2001|317998|2011|298871|2022|279593|align=right|cols=1|source=<ref>{{cite web|title=Cities & Towns of Ukraine|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/ukraine-cities.htm}}</ref>}}

=== Ethnic groups ===
Distribution of the population by ethnicity according to the [[2001 Ukrainian census|2001 census]]:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://datatowel.in.ua/pop-composition/ethnic-cities | title=Національний склад міст }}</ref>
{{bar box|title=Ethnic groups in Poltava|titlebar=#ddd|left1=|right1=percent|bars={{bar percent|[[Ukrainians]]|dodgerblue|87.73}}
{{bar percent|[[Russians in Ukraine|Russians]]|purple|10.61}}
{{bar percent|[[Belarusians]]|red|0.41}}
{{bar percent|[[Ashkenazi Jews|Jews]]|lightblue|0.24}}
{{bar percent|[[Armenians in Ukraine|Armenians]]|brown|0.21}}
{{bar percent|[[Azerbaijanis in Ukraine|Azerbaijanis]]|green|0.13}}
{{bar percent|[[Tatars in Ukraine|Tatars]]|olive|0.06}}
{{bar percent|[[Moldovans in Ukraine|Moldovans]]|pink|0.06}}
{{bar percent|[[Polish minority in Ukraine|Poles]]|yellow|0.06}}
{{bar percent|others|gray|0.49}}}}

=== Language ===
Distribution of the population by native language according to the [[2001 Ukrainian census|2001 census]]:<ref>{{cite web |lang=uk |url=https://socialdata.org.ua/projects/mova-2001/ |title=Рідні мови в об'єднаних територіальних громадах України}}</ref>
{| class="standard"
|-
! Language
! Number
! Percentage
|-
| [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]
| align="right"| 265,355 ||align="right"| 85.39%
|-
| [[Russian language in Ukraine|Russian]]
| align="right"| 43,706 || align="right"| 14.06%
|-
| Other or undecided
| align="right"| 1,694 || align="right"| 0.55%
|-
| Total
| align="right"| 310,755 || align="right"| 100.00&nbsp;%
|}

According to a survey conducted by the [[International Republican Institute]] in April-May 2023, 75&nbsp;% of the city's population spoke Ukrainian at home, and 12&nbsp;% spoke Russian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ratinggroup.ua/files/ratinggroup/reg_files/municipal_survey_may_2023_ua_-_final.pdf |title=Municipal Survey 2023|website=ratinggroup.ua|access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref>

== Geography ==

=== Climate ===
Poltava has a warm-summer [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfb''), with four distinct seasons, it is one of the coldest cities in [[Ukraine]]. The annual precipitation is fairly evenly distributed, with the highest concentration in summer, and which falls as snow in winter.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Poltava, Ukraine Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=60533&cityname=Poltava,+Ukraine|access-date=2020-10-02|website=Weatherbase}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Climate in Poltava, Ukraine|url=https://www.worlddata.info/europe/ukraine/climate-poltava.php|access-date=2020-10-02|website=Worlddata.info|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Climate Poltava Oblast: Temperature, climate graph, Climate table for Poltava Oblast - Climate-Data.org|url=https://en.climate-data.org/europe/ukraine/poltava-oblast-621/|access-date=2020-10-02|website=en.climate-data.org}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location  = Poltava (1991–2020, extremes 1948–present)
| metric first = Yes
| single line  = Yes
| Jan record high C = 11.1
| Feb record high C = 16.0
| Mar record high C = 23.6
| Apr record high C = 29.9
| May record high C = 34.2
| Jun record high C = 35.7
| Jul record high C = 39.0
| Aug record high C = 39.4
| Sep record high C = 35.2
| Oct record high C = 29.6
| Nov record high C = 20.0
| Dec record high C = 13.5
| year record high C = 39.4
| Jan high C = -1.7
| Feb high C = -0.3
| Mar high C = 5.6
| Apr high C = 15.1
| May high C = 21.7
| Jun high C = 25.2
| Jul high C = 27.5
| Aug high C = 27.1
| Sep high C = 20.7
| Oct high C = 12.9
| Nov high C = 4.8
| Dec high C = -0.2
| year high C = 13.2
| Jan mean C = -4.2
| Feb mean C = -3.4
| Mar mean C = 1.7
| Apr mean C = 9.9
| May mean C = 16.0
| Jun mean C = 19.7
| Jul mean C = 21.7
| Aug mean C = 21.0
| Sep mean C = 15.2
| Oct mean C = 8.4
| Nov mean C = 1.9
| Dec mean C = -2.6
| year mean C = 8.8
| Jan low C = -6.5
| Feb low C = -6.0
| Mar low C = -1.6
| Apr low C = 5.2
| May low C = 10.6
| Jun low C = 14.6
| Jul low C = 16.4
| Aug low C = 15.5
| Sep low C = 10.4
| Oct low C = 4.8
| Nov low C = -0.4
| Dec low C = -4.7
| year low C = 4.9
| Jan record low C = -32.2
| Feb record low C = -29.1
| Mar record low C = -22.8
| Apr record low C = -11.1
| May record low C = -1.7
| Jun record low C = 3.0
| Jul record low C = 7.2
| Aug record low C = 2.8
| Sep record low C = -3.0
| Oct record low C = -11.1
| Nov record low C = -21.5
| Dec record low C = -28.6
| year record low C = -32.2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 42
| Feb precipitation mm = 33
| Mar precipitation mm = 42
| Apr precipitation mm = 37
| May precipitation mm = 58
| Jun precipitation mm = 70
| Jul precipitation mm = 65
| Aug precipitation mm = 39
| Sep precipitation mm = 52
| Oct precipitation mm = 48
| Nov precipitation mm = 41
| Dec precipitation mm = 45
| year precipitation mm = 572
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 8.8
| Feb precipitation days = 7.4
| Mar precipitation days = 8.3
| Apr precipitation days = 6.5
| May precipitation days = 8.5
| Jun precipitation days = 7.8
| Jul precipitation days = 7.0
| Aug precipitation days = 5.1
| Sep precipitation days = 6.2
| Oct precipitation days = 6.3
| Nov precipitation days = 7.1
| Dec precipitation days = 8.0
| year precipitation days = 87.0
| Jan humidity = 87.0
| Feb humidity = 83.4
| Mar humidity = 75.6
| Apr humidity = 61.9
| May humidity = 61.5
| Jun humidity = 64.8
| Jul humidity = 64.6
| Aug humidity = 60.4
| Sep humidity = 67.3
| Oct humidity = 76.9
| Nov humidity = 86.0
| Dec humidity = 87.9
| year humidity = 73.1
| Jan sun = 68
| Feb sun = 76
| Mar sun = 132
| Apr sun = 183
| May sun = 266
| Jun sun = 293
| Jul sun = 301
| Aug sun = 285
| Sep sun = 215
| Oct sun = 144
| Nov sun = 59
| Dec sun = 42
| year sun = 2064
| source 1 = Pogoda.ru<ref name = pogoda>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/33506.htm
| script-title = ru:Погода и Климат – Климат Полтава
| trans-title = Weather and Climate – The Climate of Poltava
| publisher = Weather and Climate (Погода и климат)
| language = ru
| access-date = 29 October 2021}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[NOAA]] (humidity and precipitation 1991–2020; sun 1961–1990)<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250422015829/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/6.6/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Ukraine/CSV/Poltava_33506.csv
| archive-date = 22 April 2025
| archive-format = CSV
| format = CSV
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/6.6/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Ukraine/CSV/Poltava_33506.csv
| title = Poltava Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = [[National Centers for Environmental Information]]
| access-date = 21 April 2025}}</ref><ref name=CLINO1961>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210719034234/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/UP/33506.TXT
| archive-date = 19 July 2021
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/UP/33506.TXT
| title = Poltava Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Centers for Environmental Information]]
| access-date = 18 July 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Clear}}

==Government and subdivisions==
{{see also|List of mayors of Poltava}}
[[File:Полтава. Будинок губернського земства 1.jpg|thumb|Building of the regional administration (by [[Vasyl Krychevsky]])]]
Poltava is the [[Capital (political)|administrative center]] of the [[Poltava Oblast]] ([[Oblast|province]]) as well as of the Poltava Raion housed within the city. However, Poltava is a [[Administrative divisions of Ukraine|city of oblast subordinance]], thus being subject directly to the oblast authorities rather to the raion administration housed in the city itself.

Poltava's government consists of the 50-member Poltava City Council ({{langx|uk|Полтавська Міська рада}}) which is headed by the Secretary (currently Oleksandr Kozub). The city's current mayor is Oleksandr Mamay, who was sworn in on 4 November 2010 after being elected with more than 61 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.dt.ua/articles/68558|title=Oleksandr Mamay won at the elections for the mayor of Poltava|access-date=14 May 2011|date=6 November 2010|publisher=Dzerkalo Tyzhnya|language=uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823050851/http://news.dt.ua/articles/68558|archive-date=23 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015 he was re-elected as a candidate of [[Conscience of Ukraine]] with 62.9% in a second round of Mayoral election.<ref>[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/304206.html Mamai reelected as Poltava mayor – election commission], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (16 November 2015)</ref>

The territory of Poltava is divided into 3 [[Urban districts of Ukraine|urban districts]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/pls/z7502/A006RM?rdat1=05.01.2009&rf7571=27018|title=Poltavska Oblast, city of Poltava (raion councils of the cities)|access-date=4 January 2009|publisher=[[Verkhovna Rada|Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine]]|language=uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521222037/http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/pls/z7502/A006RM?rdat1=05.01.2009&rf7571=27018|archive-date=21 May 2011}}</ref>
# Shevchenkivskyi District,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okt-rada.poltava.ua/|title=Official resource.|access-date=3 January 2009|year=2008|publisher=Oktiabrskyi Raion Council of Poltava|language=uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202175339/http://okt-rada.poltava.ua/|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rada-poltava.gov.ua/districts/oktyabrsky/|title=Information of the Oktiabrskyi Raion of Poltava|access-date=3 January 2009|year=2007|publisher=Poltava City Council|language=uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405183341/http://www.rada-poltava.gov.ua/districts/oktyabrsky/|archive-date=5 April 2009}}</ref> to the south-west with an area of 2077 hectares and a population of 147,600 in 2005. It is a largely residential area and includes the city centre.
# Kyivskyi District,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rada-poltava.gov.ua/districts/kyivsky/|title=Information of the Kyivskyi Raion of Poltava|access-date=3 January 2009|year=2007|publisher=Poltava City Council|language=uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405221918/http://www.rada-poltava.gov.ua/districts/kyivsky/|archive-date=5 April 2009}}</ref> is the largest by area, comprising 5437 hectares, or 52.8% of the city total situated in the north and north-west. Its census in 2005 was 111,900. This district has a large industrial zone.
# Podilskyi District,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rada-poltava.gov.ua/districts/leninsky/|title=Information of the Leninskyi Raion of Poltava|access-date=3 January 2009|year=2007|publisher=Poltava City Council|language=uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405221927/http://www.rada-poltava.gov.ua/districts/leninsky/|archive-date=5 April 2009}}</ref> to the east and south-east, in the valley of the Vorskla river, with an area of 2988 hectares and a population of 53,700 in 2005.

The village of [[Rozsoshentsi]], [[Shcherbani]], [[Tereshky, Poltava Oblast|Tereshky]], [[Kopyly]] and [[Suprunivka]] are officially considered to be outside the city, but constitute part of the Poltava agglomeration.

==Culture==
[[File:Свято-Успенський кафедральний собор, Полтава.jpg|thumb|Assumption Cathedral]]
The centre of the old city is a semicircular Neoclassical square with the [[Tuscan column]] of cast iron (1805–11), commemorating the centenary of the [[Battle of Poltava]] and featuring 18 Swedish cannons captured in that battle. As [[Peter I of Russia|Peter the Great]] celebrated his victory in the Saviour church, this 17th-century wooden shrine was carefully preserved to this day. The five-domed city cathedral, dedicated to the [[Exaltation of the Cross]], is a superb monument of [[Cossack Baroque]], built between 1699 and 1709. As a whole, the cathedral presents a unity which even the Neoclassical belltower has failed to mar. Another frothy Baroque church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos, was destroyed in 1934 and rebuilt in the 1990s.

A [[minor planet]] [[2983 Poltava]] discovered in 1981 by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] astronomer [[Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh]] is named after the city.<ref>{{cite book | last = Schmadel | first = Lutz D. | title = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names | pages = 246 | edition = 5th  | year = 2003 | publisher=Springer Verlag | location = New York | isbn = 3-540-00238-3}}</ref>

===Sports===

The most popular sport is [[Association football|football (soccer)]]. Two professional football teams are based in the city: [[Vorskla Poltava]] and [[SC Poltava]], there was also [[FC Poltava]] dissolved in 2018.
There are 3 stadiums in Poltava: [[Butovsky Vorskla Stadium]] (main city stadium), [[Dynamo Stadium (Poltava)|Dynamo Stadium]] are situated in the city centre and [[Lokomotiv Stadium (Poltava)|Lokomotiv Stadium]] which is situated in Podil district.

==Notable people==
[[File:Marusya Churay.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Marusia Churai]], postage stamp, 2000]]
[[File:NV Gogol.png|thumb|140px|[[Nikolai Gogol]], 1845]]
[[File:Иван Федорович Паскевич.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Ivan Paskevich]], 1823]]
[[File:Symon Petlura. Photo 1919.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Symon Petlura|Symon Petliura]], 1920s]]
[[File:Alina Treiger1.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Alina Treiger]], 2010]]
* [[Marie Bashkirtseff]] (1858–1884) Parisian painter and diarist.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Bashkirtseff, Maria Constantinova |volume=3 |last=Karageorgevitch |first=Bojidar |author-link=Bojidar Karageorgevitch |page=466 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Yitzhak Ben-Zvi]] (1884–1963) historian, longest-serving [[President of Israel]] from 1952 to 1963.
* [[Hanka Bielicka]] (1915–2006) a Polish singer and actress, known by the name ''Hanna''
* [[Oleksandr Bilash]] (1931–2003) composer of lyric songs, ballads, operas, operettas and oratorios
* [[Sofya Bogomolets]] (1856–1892) a Russian revolutionary and political prisoner.
* [[Boris Brasol]] (1885–1963), lawyer and literary critic and a [[White movement|White Russian]] immigrant to the United States.
* [[Moura Budberg]] (1892–1974), a Russian adventuress and suspected double agent of [[Joint State Political Directorate|OGPU]] & [[MI6]].
* [[Semion Braude]] (1911–2003) was a Soviet and Ukrainian physicist and radio astronomer
* [[Nat Carr]] (1886–1944) an American character actor of the silent and early talking picture eras.
* [[Gregori Chmara]] (1878–1970) a stage and film actor whose career spanned six decades.
* [[Marusia Churai]] (1625–1653) a semi-mythical Ukrainian Baroque composer, poet, and singer.
* [[Verka Serduchka|Andriy Danylko]] (born 1973) stage name ''Verka Serduchka''; a Ukrainian comedian, actor, and singer.
* [[Sam Dreben]] (1878–1925), a highly decorated soldier in the US Army and a mercenary
* [[Vladimir Gajdarov]] (1893–1978) a Russian film actor and star of Russian and German silent cinema.
* [[Yuliy Ganf]] (1898–1973) a graphic artist, caricaturist, illustrator and poster designer.
* [[Nikolai Gogol]] (1809–1852), a novelist, short story writer and playwright.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Gogol, Nikolai Vasilievich |volume=12 |last=Shedden-Ralston |first=William Ralston |author-link=William Ralston Shedden-Ralston |pages=190–191 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Grigory Gricher]] (1893–1945), Soviet Ukrainian film director and screenwriter of Jewish descent<ref>Еврейские кинематографисты в Украине: 1917–1945 гг., 2004, [https://archive.org/details/Evreiskiyekinematografisty/page/n131/mode/2up pp. 143-149]</ref>
* [[Alexander Gurwitsch]] (1874–1954) biologist and medical scientist; originated [[Morphogenetic field]] theory
* [[Oksana Ivanenko]] (1906–1997) – Ukrainian children's writer and translator
* [[Vladimir Ivashko]] (1932–1994), politician, acting General Secretary of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]]
* [[Philip Jaffe]] (1895–1980) a left-wing American businessman, editor and author.
* [[Ernst Jedliczka]] (1855–1904) a Russian-German pianist, piano pedagogue, and music critic.
* [[Mykola Karpov]] (1929–2003), Ukrainian playwright.
* [[Dmitri Kessel]] (1902–1995), photojournalist, [[Life (magazine)|Life magazine]] 1944–1972 and war correspondent
* [[Vera Kholodnaya]] (1893–1919) an actress of the early Imperial Russian cinema.
* [[Yuri Kondratyuk]] (1897–1942), astronautics and spaceflight pioneer; foresaw reaching the Moon
* [[Ivan Kotliarevsky]] (1769–1838) a Ukrainian writer, poet and playwright and social activist
* [[Anatoly Lunacharsky]] (1875–1933) Russian Marxist revolutionary; Bolshevik Soviet people's [[Commissar]]
* [[Anton Makarenko]] (1888–1939), educator, social worker and writer and top educational theorist
* [[Yuri Levitin]] (1912–1993) a Soviet Russian composer of classical music.
* [[Mykola Lysenko]] (1842–1912) composer, pianist, conductor; founder first Ukrainian classical music school
* [[Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)|Patriarch Mstyslav]] (1898–1993), Ukrainian Orthodox Church [[hierarch]]
* [[Matvei Muranov]] (1873–1959) a Ukrainian Bolshevik revolutionary, Soviet politician and statesman.
* [[Panas Myrny]] (1849–1920) a Ukrainian prose writer and playwright
* [[Jensen Noen]] (born 1987) a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, cinematographer and writer.
* [[Oleksiy Onyschenko]] (born 1933) a philosopher, academic and culture theorist
* [[Mikhail Ostrogradsky]] (1801–1862), a Ukrainian mathematician, mechanic and physicist
* [[Olena Pchilka]] (1849–1930), a Ukrainian publisher, writer, ethnographer and civil activist.
* [[Ivan Paskevich]] (1782–1856), Ukrainian military leader in Imperial Russian service.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Paskevich, Ivan Fedorovich |volume=20 |pages=883–884 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Symon Petliura]] (1879–1926) a Ukrainian politician, journalist and military leader of Ukraine's struggle for independence following the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917.
* [[Vladimir Picheta]] (1878–1947), a Belarusian historian, first rector of the Belarusian State University
* [[Zhanna Prokhorenko]] (1940–2011) a Soviet and Russian actress
* [[Sasha Putrya]] (1977–1989) Ukrainian artist, died aged 11 from [[leukemia]].
* [[Svitlana Pyrkalo]] (born 1976) a London-based writer, journalist and former [[BBC News Ukrainian|BBC]] radio producer
* [[Boris Schwanwitsch]] (1889–1957) a Russian [[entomologist]] who specialised in [[Lepidoptera]].
* [[Moshe Zvi Segal (rabbi)|Moshe Zvi Segal]] (1904–1985), rabbi and activist in Israeli organizations, including [[Irgun|Etzel]] and [[Lechi]].
* [[Bert Shefter]] (1902–1999) a film composer who worked primarily in America.
* [[Avraham Shlonsky]] (1900–1973), Israeli poet and editor
* [[Hryhorii Skovoroda]] (1722–1794) a Ukrainian poet, philosopher and composer
* [[Ivan Steshenko]] (1873–1918), a Ukrainian civic and political activist, writer and Govt. minister.
* [[Maria Tarnowska]] (1877–1949), [[femme fatale]], famously convicted of murder in [[Venice]] in 1910.
* [[Elias Tcherikower]] (1881–1943), a Jewish historian of Judaism and the Jewish people.
* [[Alina Treiger]] (born 1979) the first female rabbi to be ordained in Germany since WWII.
* [[Yelena Ubiyvovk]] (1918–1942) a partisan and leader of a [[Komsomol]] cell during WWII.
* [[Paisius Velichkovsky]] (1722–1794), [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] [[monk]] and theologian, promoted [[starets]]dom
* [[Nikolai Yaroshenko]] (1846–1898) a Ukrainian painter of portraits, genre paintings and drawings.
* [[Ya'akov Zerubavel]] (1886-1967) co-founder of [[Poale Zion]] and [[Yiddish]] advocate

=== Sport ===
[[File:Ruslan Rotan2016.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Ruslan Rotan]], 2016]]
* [[Leonid Bartenyev]] (1933–2021) a 100 metre team silver medallist at the [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956]] and [[1960 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Viktor Buhaievskyi]] (1939–2009), Soviet and Ukrainian professional footballer
* [[Sergei Diyev]] (born 1958) a Russian football manager and former player with over 600 club caps
* [[Serhiy Konovalov]] (born 1972) a football coach and former footballer with 270 club caps and 22 for [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]]
* [[Oleksandr Melaschenko]] (born 1978) a football striker with over 320 club caps and 16 for [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]]
* [[Ruslan Rotan]] (born 1981) a former professional footballer with 382 club caps and 100 for [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]]; now manager of the [[Ukraine national under-21 football team]]
* [[Ivan Shariy]] (born 1957) is a former Soviet and Ukrainian footballer with over 500 club caps

== Economy and infrastructure ==

===Transportation===
[[File:Poltava train station.jpg|thumb|275px|Poltava-Kyivska railway station]]

Poltava's transportation infrastructure consists of two major train stations: [[Poltava-Pivdenna railway station|Poltava-Pivdenna]] and [[Poltava Kyivska railway station|Poltava-Kyivska]], with railway links to [[Kyiv]], [[Kharkiv]], and [[Kremenchuk]]. Poltava-Kyiv line is electrified and is used by the Poltava Express. The electrification of the Poltava-Kharkiv line was completed in August 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Poltava-Kharkiv rail line|url=http://gortransport.kharkov.ua/news/news.php?news_id=7022|access-date=21 September 2008|language=ru}}</ref>

The Avtovokzal serves as the city's intercity bus station. Buses for local municipal routes depart from "AC-2" (autostation No. 2 – along [[Taras Shevchenko|Shevchenko]] Street) and "AC-3" (Zinkivska Street). Local municipal routes are parked along the [[Taras Shevchenko]] Street. [[Marshrutka]] minibuses serve areas where regular bus access is unavailable; however, they are privately owned and cost more per ride. In addition, a 10-route [[trolleybus]] network of {{convert|72.6|km|mi}} runs throughout the city. On the routes of the city go more than 50 units of trolleybuses.

Poltava is also served by an International Airport, situated outside the city limits near the village of Ivashky. The international highway [[International Highways (Ukraine)|M03]], linking Poltava with Kyiv and Kharkiv, passes through the southern outskirts of the city. There is also a regional highway P-17 crossing Poltava and linking it with Kremenchuk and [[Sumy]].<ref>Poltava – Plan. Kyiv Army-Cartographic Fabric.</ref>

==Education==

Poltava has always been one of the most important science and education centres in Ukraine. Major universities and institutions of higher education include the following:
[[File:Полтавська духовна семінарія.jpg|thumb|Theological seminary, which during [[World War I]] was converted into a military school quartering the Vilno Cadet School]]
* [[Poltava V.G. Korolenko National Pedagogical University|Poltava National Pedagogical University]] named after [[Vladimir Korolenko|V. G. Korolenko]]
* National University "Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic"
* Poltava Agrarian State Academy
* Poltava State Medical University
* [[Poltava University of Economics and Trade]]
* [[Poltava Military Institute of Connections]]
* Poltava Law Institute of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University
*[[Poltava branch of the State Academy of Statistics, region and audit to the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine]]

'''Astronomy'''
* Poltava gravimetric observatory (PGO) is situated a bit north from city centre (27–29 Miasoyedov St.). Its main work directions are measurements of Earth rotation, latitude variations (applying zenith stars observations, lunar occultation observations and other)
* Observational station of PGO in rural area, some 20&nbsp;km east along the M03-E40 highway. Radiotelescope URAN-2 (Ukrainian: ''УРАН-2'') is situated there too.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{see also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Ukraine}}
 
Poltava is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
* {{flagicon|BUL}} [[Veliko Tarnovo]], [[Bulgaria]] (1963)
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Filderstadt]], [[Germany]]
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Ostfildern]], [[Germany]]
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Irondequoit]], [[United States]]
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Kristianstad]], [[Sweden]]
* {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kouvola]], [[Finland]]

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Poltava Dvoryanske zibrannya.JPG|Building of the Noble Assembly
File:Poltava City Hall.JPG|State administrative building (Russian Empire)
File:PoltavaSpasskajaCerkov.jpg|Church of the Savior
File:P1230516 Вул. Жовтнева, 23.jpg|Poltava Theatre of Music and Drama
File:"Грандъ Отель" купця І. Гінсбурга.JPG|Merchant Ginzburg's "Grand Hotel"
File:Poltava Ivan Kotlyarevsky Obelisk.JPG|Obelisk at the [[Ivan Kotlyarevsky]]'s burial
File:Poltava Mansion of Bahmackiy.JPG|[[Moorish architecture|Moorish-styled]] mansion of Bakhmatsky
File:Poltava Monastery 03.jpg|Exaltation of the Cross nunnery
File:Poltava Well (Memorial - Estate writer I.P.Kotlyarevsky).JPG|Traditional Ukrainian well, ''krynytsia'' (Kotlyarevsky's estate)
File:Будинок земства P1230868 пл. Конституції, 2.jpg|[[Poltava Governorate Zemstvo Building|Former Regional Administration building]]
File:Інститут шляхетних дівчат,Полтава, Проспект Першотравневий, 24 061.jpg|Former Institute of Noble Maidens (today, National Technical University)
File:Братська могила 1345 російських воїнів (Поле Полтавської битви),.jpg|Mass burial of 1345 Russian soldiers (perished at the [[Battle of Poltava]])
File:Poltava2.jpg|Main pedestrian street of Poltava
File:Poltava selansky bank SAM 7645 53-101-0521.JPG|[[Security Service of Ukraine|State security]] office
File:Корпусный парк.jpg|Round square in central Poltava
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Poltava}}
{{wikivoyage|Poltava}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Poltava (town) |volume= 22 | pages = 13&ndash;14 |short= 1}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Poltava (government) |volume= 22 |last1= Kropotkin |first1= Peter Alexeivitch |author1-link= Peter Kropotkin|last2= Bealby |first2= John Thomas | page = 13 |short= 1}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.rada-poltava.gov.ua/|title=Official website|publisher=Poltava City Council|language=uk|access-date=14 May 2011|archive-date=25 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925222308/http://www.rada-poltava.gov.ua/|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.adm-pl.gov.ua/|title=News|publisher=Poltava Oblast State Administration|language=uk|access-date=14 May 2011|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120113926/http://www.adm-pl.gov.ua/|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|url=http://poltavahistory.inf.ua/|title=Poltava Istoricheskaya5|publisher=poltavahistory.inf.ua|language=ru}}
* {{cite web|url=http://transport.poltava.ua/|title=Main|publisher=Transport of Poltava (unofficial project)|language=ru|access-date=14 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217071038/http://transport.poltava.ua/|archive-date=17 December 2008|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|url=http://ingvarr.net.ru/photo/220|title=Photos of Poltava |language=ru}}
* [http://www.yadvashem.org/untoldstories/database/index.asp?cid=515 The murder of the Jews of Poltava] during [[World War II]], at [[Yad Vashem]] website.
* [https://pl.locator.ua/?l=en An English-language city guide to Poltava]

{{Poltava Oblast}}
{{Administrative divisions of Ukraine}}
{{Cities in Ukraine}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Poltava| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Poltava Oblast]]
[[Category:Cities of regional significance in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Oblast centers in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 9th century]]
[[Category:Rus' towns]]