Sumy Ukraine Overview
Sumy is a city and administrative center of Sumy oblast, northeastern Ukraine, on the Psyol River. Sumy city is a highway and railway junction and has an airport.
Although a settlement existed there in the 8th and 9th centuries, Sumy was founded as a fortress in 1652 by refugees of Belotserkovsk regiment. In 1656-1765 a fortress was built to defend the southern Russia from Crimean Tatars.
In 1658-1765 Sumy was a center of Sumy regiment. During the northern war of 1700-1721 the General Headquarters of Russian Army headed by Peter the Great was located in Sumy (December 1708-February 1709). In 18th-19th centuries Sumy city was major commercial center of the region. Soviet power was established in Sumy in 1918.
Main industries of Sumy city are machine building, metal processing, food and chemical industries. Modern Sumy city industries produce machinery for the chemical industry, electron microscopes, pumps, and fertilizers and other chemicals. Light industries of Sumy include sugar refining and other food processing and the production of clothing, footwear and furniture.
A teacher-training institute is located in Sumy near best Sumy hotels. Famous Russian writers A.P.Chekhov and A.I.Kuprin lived in Sumy city. Sumy was visited by composer P.I.Chaikovsky, writer V.G.Korolenko, poet A.N.Pletsheyev.
Among survivals of Sumy city past are the Cathedral of the Transfiguration (1776-1788) and the Church of Resurrection (1702).