Vulcănești (Romanian pronunciation: [vulkəˈneʃtʲ]; Gagauz: Valkaneş; Russian: Вулканешты, romanized: Vulkaneshty) is a city and district in Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. The district of Vulcănești is the southern exclave of Gagauzia surrounded by the Cahul District (Moldova) and Odesa Oblast (Ukraine). One village-rail station also named Vulcănești, is administered by the city.
Contents
History
The site of the city has been settled by humans for centuries, archaeological investigations have revealed a Neolithic sculpture that echoes Rodin's The Thinker.
The present day town was settled in the 18th century by Gagauz and Moldovan refugees from the Ottoman Empire.
The symbol of the town, the monument dedicated to the Battle of Cahul was erected in around 1849. Signifying a battle that took place in the proximate area in the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). The monument was designed by the Italian architect Francesco Boffo.
After the Union of Bessarabia with Romania in 1918 Vulcănești was integrated into the Cahul county in Romania. In 1930 the town was recorded to have 6,538 people, including 3389 men and 3149 women.
In 1965 the then village received the status of urban-type settlement and in 1995 city status.
Demographics
According to the 2024 census, 10,919 inhabitants lived in Vulcănești, a decrease compared to the previous census in 2014, when 12,185 inhabitants were registered.
Media
Moldovan radio station Vocea Basarabiei broadcasts in Vulcănești on 106.7.
International relations
Twin towns – Sister cities
Ceadîr-Lunga is twinned with:
Zhukovka, Bryansk Oblast, Russia;
Babruysk, Belarus;
Lüleburgaz, Turkey;
Notable people
Aleksandra Albu (born 1990), Russian mixed martial artist
Vladimir Pushkaryov (born 1973), Russian senator
Grigorii Uzun (born 1986), Moldovan businessman and politician