Dzhankoi or Jankoy is a city of regional significance in the northern part of Crimea, internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, but since 2014 occupied by Russia. It also serves as administrative centre of Dzhankoi Raion although it is not a part of the raion (district). Population: The name Dzhankoi (Ukrainian and ; ; ; ) means 'new village': canköy < cañı köy (cañı is 'new' in the northern dialect of Crimean Tatar), but it is often explained as meaning 'spirit-village' (< can 'spirit' + köy 'village'). The city has various industries, which produce automobiles, reinforced concrete, fabric, meat, and other products. Dzhankoi also has professional technical schools.

Geography

Dzhankoi serves as the administrative centre of the Dzhankoi Raion. It is located about 93 km from the Crimean capital, Simferopol. Two railroad lines, Solionoye ozero-Sevastopol and Armiansk-Kerch, cross Dzhankoi.

Climate

Dzhankoi's climate is mostly hot in the summer, and mild in the winter. The average temperature ranges from -2 °C in January, to 23 °C in July. The average precipitation is 420 mm per year.

History

Dzhankoi was mentioned for the first time in 1855, and it received city status in 1926. About 1,400 Jews lived in Dzhankoi on the eve of the Second World War. In 1941, during the war, Dzhankoi was occupied by German troops. During the occupation, 720 Jewish members of the local collective farm were shot in the city. Other accounts mention 7,000, which could include Jews brought from elsewhere. Dzhankoi was recaptured by Soviet troops on April 13, 1944. In 1954, as part of the Crimean region, it became part of the Ukrainian SSR. Since 1991, it has been a part of independent Ukraine. In February 2014, it was annexed by Russia. On the night of March 20, 2023, explosions caused by drone attacks were reported in the area.

Transport

Dzhankoi is a transport hub. Through the city pass two major railways of the peninsula as well as two major European highways. It has two railroad terminals - the central one, where only passenger and fast trains stop and the suburban one - where only suburban trains, known as elektrichkas, are allowed. Dzhankoi air base of the Russian Navy is nearby.

Population

Demographics

As of the 2001 Ukrainian census, 59.75% of the population identified as Russians, 25.91% as ethnic Ukrainians, while Crimean Tatars made up 8.09% of the population. The town is also home to smaller Belarusian, Polish, Moldovan and Armenian communities. In the 2014 census conducted by Russian occupation authorities, the town had a population of 38,622, of which 25,787 (66.77%) were Russian, 6,401 (16.57%) were Ukrainian, 2,807 (7.27%) were Crimean Tatar and 829 (2.15%) were Tatar.

In popular culture

Dzhankoi is the subject of a popular Yiddish song "Hey! Zhankoye" (Yiddish: "Dzhankoye" "דזשאַנקויע"), as popularized by The Limeliters, Pete Seeger, the Klezmatics, and Theodore Bikel, a Soviet-era song praising the life of Jews on collective farms in Crimea.

Gallery

Notable people