Sevastopol

Sevastopol (formerly known as Sebastopol, population 360,000) is a city in the Ukraine, located on the Crimean peninsula, on the Black Sea. Home of the former Soviet Black Sea fleet, the city is still a Russian naval base. It is also a popular seaside resort and tourist destination, mainly for visitors from the CIS countries.

History

Sevastopol was founded in 1783, when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula. It became an important naval base and later, a commercial port. It was besieged by the British and French during the Crimean War, falling after 11 months.

While part of the Soviet Union, the city wasn't part of the Crimean oblast of the Ukrainian SSR, but direct subordinate to Kiev.