19 July 2026
(Chornomorsk. PHOTO: travels.in.ua)
Chornomorsk is one of the youngest cities not only in the Odesa region but also in Ukraine, and in just a few decades it has become the most important transportation and logistics hub of the Northern Black Sea region. With this story about the city, Intent continues its series “The Amazing South.”
Located on the shores of the Sukhyi Liman and the Black Sea, just 29 km from Odesa, Chornomorsk serves as a suburb and tourist hub for the regional capital. Its population is approximately 58,000 (as of 2022), and together with the entire community, it exceeds 71,000. This settlement became a city as a result of a large-scale engineering and economic project in the mid-20th century.
Today, when tourists visit this satellite city of Odesa, they are greeted by a modern port and resort town. But few people know that the territory of present-day Chornomorsk was inhabited long before the modern city emerged—more than 3,000 years ago. Archaeological finds here reveal traces of ancient settlements from various historical eras.
The history of this area dates back to the Copper and Bronze Ages. Evidence of Late Bronze Age culture has been found at the sites of the modern settlements of the Chornomorsk community: Oleksandrivka, Malodolynske, and Burlachaya Balka. Archaeologist Igor Sapozhnikov has demonstrated this in his research. Archaeological evidence shows that the coast of the Sukhyi Liman was inhabited by various groups as far back as ancient times, and modern Chornomorsk grew out of several older settlements. Artifacts prove that the region was important for trade and agriculture during that period. Archaeologists have also discovered sites dating back to the times of Kievan Rus’.
In the 13th–14th centuries, the lands were under the rule of the Golden Horde and later became part of the Ottoman Empire. Following changes in the political situation in the Northern Black Sea region in the second half of the 18th century, peasants from Ukraine, Moldova, and the inland provinces of the Russian Empire began to settle here. The population’s main occupations were agriculture, fishing, and livestock farming.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, following the Russo-Turkish Wars, lands near the Sukhyi Liman were distributed to military officers. One of the pioneers here was Major Andriy Buga, who received a plot of land and founded a settlement. This is how small farmsteads came into being, named after their founder—the Bug Farmsteads. The first residents of the settlements were Greeks, Arnauts (Balkan settlers), and Ukrainian Black Sea Cossacks. The first community facilities appeared—a church, a hospital, and a school—indicating the fairly rapid development of the farmsteads.
Bugovi Khutory became an important trading center thanks to its proximity to the sea and the estuary. Viticulture, horticulture, and fishing flourished here. By the mid-19th century, the settlement already had several hundred residents and had become the center of the surrounding small farmsteads.
In 1927, the area was renamed Illichivske, reflecting the policy of renaming settlements that was characteristic of that era.
The city’s modern history began in 1952, when a decision was made to launch a large-scale construction project for a ship repair facility and a new seaport designed to relieve the rapidly developing Port of Odesa.
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Illichivsk. PHOTO: encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com
Initially, it was an urban-type workers’ settlement called Illichivske, but in 1973 it received city status and was renamed Illichivsk. In 2016, as part of the state’s decommunization policy, the city’s residents supported a new name—Chornomorsk—during public hearings. Incidentally, alternative options included Palmyra, Porto-Franco, Soncemorsk, Helios, and Myropil, but the majority voted for a name that emphasizes the city’s maritime identity. Thus, Chornomorsk has symbolically returned to its historical roots, shedding its Soviet legacy.
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Chornomorsk. PHOTO: chernomorsk.com.ua
There is a Soviet myth about Chornomorsk that claims the city was built from scratch through communist labor. In reality, the history of this region is much older than the city’s official founding date of 1973, which refutes the Soviet-era propaganda about it being a “wasteland.”
The seaport was the main factor in Chornomorsk’s growth. Its construction shaped the city’s future, transforming a small settlement into one of the country’s largest transportation hubs.
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The Port of Chornomorsk. PHOTO: seaport.com.ua
A distinctive feature of the Chornomorsk port is its location on the shore of the Sukhyi Liman, which is connected to the Black Sea by a deep-water navigable channel. This geographical position provides natural protection for the harbor from storms and allows for year-round navigation.
The development of port infrastructure has led to the formation of a powerful transportation and logistics complex around the city. Rail lines, highways, and maritime routes have formed a unified system that connects Ukraine with European, Caucasian, and Asian destinations. The port specializes in handling container, grain, general, and liquid cargo, and also serves international ferry services.
Due to the active hostilities that Russia has launched against Ukraine, ferry service from the port of Chornomorsk is currently largely suspended. After brief attempts to resume cargo and passenger services to Georgia (the port of Batumi) and Bulgaria, the shipping company “Ukrferry” suspended passenger services due to insufficient cargo volume. Currently, passenger ferry services from Chornomorsk are officially not operating.
Since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Black Sea port and the city itself have been subjected to regular missile and drone attacks, which have caused destruction to the port’s and city’s infrastructure, and posing a threat to the lives of port staff and Chornomorsk residents. The attacks have hampered port operations. There are plans to transfer some of its facilities to a concession to attract investors. Massive strikes on oil depots and the port complex are leading to large-scale spills of petroleum products into the Black Sea. Fires are breaking out, polluting the air and seawater and destroying natural ecosystems.
The history of the lighthouse began in the middle of the last century—in 1960. At that time, a temporary lighthouse was installed in Illichivsk under the direction of Port Captain Leonid Khlobnikov. Five years later, a permanent navigational structure was erected on the breakwater. It is this structure that is now known as the Black Sea Lighthouse, which first lit its lights on October 5, 1965.
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Black Sea Lighthouse. PHOTO: seaport.com.ua
The lighthouse operates on a hydraulic foundation, meaning it is not located on the shore but on a specially constructed foundation in the water. This location exposes the lighthouse to constant exposure to various natural elements—storms, waves, and so on. The lighthouse is a cylindrical tower 18 meters high. The top of the lighthouse is equipped with a lantern and an observation deck.
The Black Sea Lighthouse has a distinctive design. The tower features alternating red and white horizontal stripes, and the lantern dome is painted red. Thanks to this color contrast, the navigational structure remains visible to sailors even during the day, as it stands out significantly against its surroundings.
In 2000, the lighthouse underwent extensive renovations. Repair and restoration work was carried out on it. The structure’s equipment was replaced with modern electronic systems, and the traditional electric lamps were replaced with LEDs. Following the city’s renaming in 2017, the Illichivsk Lighthouse also changed its name.
Today, the lighthouse remains not only an important navigational aid but also one of the main symbols of Chornomorsk. Its image is featured on the city’s coat of arms.
Unlike most port cities, Chornomorsk was designed according to modern urban planning principles. The industrial zone was separated from residential neighborhoods by a wide strip of green spaces, which serves both sanitary and ecological functions. Thanks to this, it was possible to significantly reduce the impact of industry on the living conditions of people working in this area.
Wide avenues, spacious public areas, well-maintained parks, and proximity to the sea make the city a comfortable place to live. Even with its large industrial complex, Chornomorsk maintains its reputation as one of the most well-organized cities in the Odesa region.
Chornomorsk features several architectural elements that add to the city’s tourist appeal and are reminiscent of Odesa. In the center, near Primorsky Park, there is a wide stone staircase that is often compared to the famous Potemkin Stairs in Odesa. They lead from the upper part of the city down to the waterfront and the beach, creating a picturesque descent with views of the sea and the port. Although smaller in scale than those in Odesa, the stairs have become a sort of landmark for Chornomorsk: tourists love to take photos here, cultural events are held here, and in the evenings, the stairs become a popular place for strolls.
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Seaside Stairs. PHOTO: armyinform.com.ua
On the Chornomorsk waterfront stands a white colonnade reminiscent of Odessa’s classic seaside pavilions. It is designed in the Empire style: slender columns, open space, and panoramic views of the sea and the port. The colonnade has also become a symbol of the city—it is often depicted on souvenirs, postcards, and tourist brochures. It’s a popular spot for photo shoots, wedding ceremonies, and relaxing while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
The staircase and colonnade form the architectural ensemble of the waterfront, which underscores Chornomorsk’s status as a resort satellite of Odesa.
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Seaside Park. PHOTO: ctm-group.com.ua
Among Chornomorsk’s landmarks are the 19th-century Holy Assumption Church, Seaside Park, modern sculptures, and memorials. The city has sister cities in Poland, Turkey, Estonia, and China, and is actively developing cultural and educational projects.
A notable feature of the city is its natural surroundings. The Black Sea coast is characterized by wide sandy beaches, a favorable climate, and a relatively clean coastal zone.
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Chornomorsk’s Central Beach. PHOTO: encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com
Chornomorsk takes particular pride in its 12 km of municipal beaches, which have repeatedly received the international “Blue Flag” award, confirming their compliance with high standards for water quality, safety, and environmental management.
The central beach features well-developed, high-quality infrastructure—equipped with lifeguard stations, shelters, and modern recreational areas. In addition to the beaches, the city features parks, recreation centers, sports facilities, and cultural venues, making it an attractive destination for family and wellness tourism.
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