Kerch
Kerch, also known as Kerich, is a city of on the Kerch Peninsula in the east of Crimea. It has a population of
Founded 2,600 years ago as the ancient Greek colony Pantikapaion, Kerch is one of the most ancient cities in Crimea. The city experienced rapid growth starting in the 1920s and was the site of a major battle during World War II.
Today, it is one of the largest cities in Crimea and is among the area's most important industrial, transport and tourist centres. As with the rest of Crimea, it has been occupied by Russian forces since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
History
Ancient times
Archeological digs at Mayak village near the city ascertained that the area had already been inhabited in the 17th–15th centuries BC. While many finds from Kerch can be found in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and the local museum, a large number of antique sculptures, reliefs, bronze and glassware, ceramics and jewellery were excavated in 1855–1856 during the Crimean War by Duncan MacPherson, a surgeon from the British Army, and later donated to the British Museum in London.Kerch as a city starts its history in the 7th century BC, when Greek colonists from Miletus founded a city-state named Panticapaeum on Mount Mithridat near the mouth of the Melek-Chesme river. Panticapaeum subdued nearby cities and by 480 BC became the capital of the Kingdom of Bosporus. Later, during the rule of Mithradates VI Eupator, Panticapaeum for a short period of time became the capital of the much more powerful and extensive Kingdom of Pontus.
The city was located at the intersection of trade routes between the steppe and Europe. This caused it to grow rapidly. The city's main exports were grain and salted fish; wine-making was also common. Panticapaeum minted its own coins. According to extant documents the Melek-Chesme river was navigable in Bosporan times, and sea galleys were able to enter the river. Much of the city's population is thought to have been ethnically Scythian, later Sarmatian, as implied by the large Royal Kurgan at Kul-Oba.
In the 1st century AD, Panticapaeum and the Kingdom of Bosphorus suffered from Ostrogoth raids; then the city was devastated by the Huns in AD 375.
The settlement of Myrmekion was founded by Ionians in the eastern part of what is now Kerch, some four kilometers north-east of ancient Panticapaeum, in the first half of the 6th century BC.
Middle Ages
From the 6th century the city was under the control of the Byzantine Empire. By order of Emperor Justinian I, a citadel named Bospor was built there. Bospor was the centre of a bishopric, the diocese of Bosporus and developed under the influence of Greek Christianity. In 576, it withstood a siege by the Göktürks under Bokhan, aided by Anagai, the last khan of the Uturgurs.In the 7th century, the Turkic Khazars took control of Bospor, and the city was named Karcha from Turkic "karşı" meaning 'opposite, facing.' The main local government official during Khazar times was the tudun.
During Khazar rule, Kerch was used as a major port for the Khazar slave trade, through which slaves were exported to the Black Sea slave trade.
Christianity was a major religion in Kerch during the period of Khazar rule. Kerch's Church of St. John the Baptist was founded in 717; thus, it is the oldest church in Ukraine. The Church of the Apostles existed during the late 8th and early 9th centuries, according to the Life of the Apostle Andrew by Epiphanius of Salamis.
Following the fall of Khazaria to Kievan Rus' in the late 10th century, Kerch became the centre of a Khazar successor-state. Its ruler, Georgius Tzul, was deposed by a Byzantine-Rus expedition in 1016.
From the 10th century, the city was a Slavic settlement named Korchev, which belonged to the Tmutarakan principality. Kerch was a center of trade between Russia', Crimea, Caucasus and the Orient.
In the 13th century, Crimea including Korchev was invaded by Mongols. After the Mongols, the city became the Genoese colony of Cerco in 1318 and served as a sea harbour, where townspeople worked at salt works and fishery.
In 1475, the city was passed to the Ottoman Empire. During the Turkish rule Kerch fell into decay and served as a slave-market. It repeatedly suffered from raids of Zaporizhian Cossacks.
18th–20th centuries
In response to the strengthening of Russian military forces in Azov area, the Turks built a fortress, named Yenikale, near Kerch on the shore of Kerch Strait. The fortress was completed by 1706. In 1771 the Imperial Russian Army invaded Crimea and approached Yenikale. The Turks decided to abandon the fortress, though reinforcements from the Ottoman Empire had arrived a few days earlier. By the Peace Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji in 1774, Kerch and Yenikale were ceded to Russia. As a result, the Turkish heritage has been almost completely wiped out.In 1790 Russian naval forces under the command of admiral Fyodor Ushakov defeated the Turkish fleet at the Battle of Kerch Strait.
Because of its location, from 1821 Kerch developed into an important trade and fishing port. The state museum of ancient times and a number of educational institutions were opened in the city. The ironwork factory was built in 1846 based on a huge iron ore deposit found on Kerch Peninsula.
During the Crimean War the city was devastated by British forces in 1855.
In the late 19th century, mechanical and cement factories were built, and tinned food and tobacco factories were established. By 1900, Kerch was connected to a railroad system, and the fairway of Kerch Strait was deepened and widened. At this time, the population had reached 33,000.
After suffering a decline during the First World War and the Russian Civil War, the city resumed its growth in the late 1920s, with the expansion of various industries, iron ore, and metallurgy in particular, and by 1939 its population had reached 104,500.
Kerch in World War II
On the Eastern Front of World War II from 1941 to 1945, Kerch was the site of heavy fighting between Red Army and Axis forces. After fierce fighting, the city was taken by the Germans in November 1941. On 31 December 1941, the 302nd Mountain Rifle Division recaptured the city following a naval landing operation at Kamysh Burun, to the south of the city, five days earlier. In 1942 the Germans occupied the city again. The Red Army lost over 160,000 men, either killed or taken POW at the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula. On 31 October 1943 another Soviet naval landing operation was launched. Kerch returned to Soviet control on 11 April 1944.The German invaders killed about 15,000 citizens and deported another 14,000 during their occupation. Evidence of German atrocities in Kerch was presented in the Nuremberg trials. After the war, the city was awarded the title Hero City.
The Adzhimushkay catacombs in the city's suburbs were the site of guerrilla warfare against the occupation. Thousands of soldiers and refugees found shelter inside and were involved in counterattacks. Many of them died underground, including those who died of numerous alleged poison gas attacks. Later, a memorial was established on the site.
Kerch in the Soviet Union
Kerch in Independent Ukraine
On 11 November 2007, a powerful storm passed through the city, causing much damage and an ecological disaster as a few ships, including an oil tanker, were shipwrecked and blocked the Kerch Strait.Russian occupation
As with the other parts of Crimea, as of 2023 Kerch is occupied by Russian forces following the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014.On 17 October 2018, a student killed 20 people and himself at Kerch Polytechnic College.
Geography
Climate
Kerch has a humid subtropical climate with cool to cold winters and warm to hot summers.Administration
The city municipality stretches over a substantial area and includes several separate neighborhoods that are part of the Kerch city: Eltigen, Kamysh-Burun, Port Krym, Adzhimushkai, and Tuzla Island.Demographics
In 2014, the population of Kerch was 144,626.Economy
Today Kerch is home to many metallurgists, shipbuilders, and fishermen. It also has a significant tourism sector.Industry
The largest enterprises in the city are:- Kerch Metallurgical Works Factory launched in 1900
- Kamysh-Burun Iron Ore Plant
- Zaliv Shipyard that produces and repairs tankers and cargo ships.
- Kerch Aircraft Repair Plant KeARZ
- KMZ KMK Metallurgical Plant, Kerch east
- Oil and Gas extraction industry petrochemical and storage
- Zaliv Shipyard,
- Kvartz Quartz Glass Factory Plant KSZ
- PSZ Albatros, PSZ KMPZ Vityaz Priladobudivni
- Kamysh Burun Iron Metallurgy Plant
- KMZ KMTP SV Fregat floating docks yard and ship repair yard
- KSRZ uvas-trans floating docks yards and ship repair
Tourism
Despite the lack of beaches in the town's area, there are a lot of them at a distance of 20 minutes' travel by bus, train or taxi.
Kerch has a number of impressive architectural and historical monuments. Ancient historical heritage of the city makes it attractive for scientific tourism. The most notable of Kerch's sights are:
- Site of ancient settlement Pantikapaion.
- Royal Kurgan – burial mound for one of the Bosporian kings
- Church of St. John the Baptist
- Fortress of Yenikale
- The Great Mithridates Staircase leading on top of the Mount Mithridat, contains 428 footsteps, built in 1833–1840 under the guidance of Italian architect Alexander Digbi
- Obelisk of Glory on the Mount Mithridat, built after World War II
- Lapidarium
- Memorial of heroic guerilla warfare in Adzhimushkay mines
- Kerch Fortress; restricted area in Soviet times but free to enter in present days. The fortress was built by the Russian military architect Totleben in the middle of 19th century.
- Sites of ancient settlements Myrmekion, Tyritake and Nymphaion. There are also some settlements which have gone underwater due to earthquakes.
- Demeter's Crypt, a crypt with numerous frescos dated 1st century BC.