Vileyka or Vilyeyka is a town in Minsk Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Vileyka District. It is located on the Viliya River, 100 km northwest of Minsk. The first historical record dates from 16 November 1460. As of 2024, the town has a population of 26,625. The Vileyka VLF transmitter operated by the Russian Navy is located near Vileyka. It provides VLF communication between Russian Navy's headquarters and atomic submarines in the Atlantic, Indian and parts of the Pacific Ocean.

History

In the 10th–13th centuries, the territory was under the Principality of Polotsk, and in XIV–XVII under Grand Duchy of Lithuania as manor house Kurenets. The city was first mentioned in 1460 as a borough center of the Vileyka Starostwo of the Ashmyany county in Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Geography

The modern city is located on the right bank of the river Viliya, in the northwest part of the Minsk region, 100 kilometers from Minsk. The town's population numbers 30,000 people. There is a railway station of the Maladzyechna–Polotsk line in the city. The roads to Maladzyechna, Smarhon, Myadzyel, Dokshytsy, Plyeshchanitsy run through the city. The town's industry is represented by the Zenit plant, wood processing enterprises (including a furniture factory), a motor repair plant, building materials plants, light and food enterprises. Vileyka also houses the Museum of Regional Studies. The territory of the Vileyka district is 2400 km2. Forests account for 41% of the territory. The main part of the district is situated within the borders of Narach-Vileyka lowland. In the year 1974, near the town of Vileyka Belarus's largest artificial reservoir was built — Vileyka reservoir with a total area of 63.3 km2 and a volume of 238 e6m3.

Demography

According to the 1921 census, the town's population was 62.8% Polish, 27.4% Belarusian and 8.1% Jewish.

Notable residents

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Vileyka is twinned with: