Molochansk
Molochansk is a city in Tokmak Raion of Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine. It is located at around. Molochna River flows through the city. Population:.
Molochansk was founded in 1804 by Dutch and German Mennonite settlers who were invited by Empress Catherine the Great to settle on the vast steppes of the Tsar's Russian empire. They called the new village "Halbstadt". Because of hostile national policies toward Germans in the 20th century Soviet Union, almost no ethnic Germans are left in the region. During the Soviet rule, a large number of people lost all their possessions, and all Germans were relocated to the remote parts of Kazakhstan. In 2004 the 200th anniversary of Molochansk/Halbstadt was celebrated with worldwide distinguished guests in attendance. Canada's ambassador to Ukraine was present at this gala event.
Mennonites had earlier, in 1789, founded the Chortitza Colony at the invitation of Catherine the Great. It was the successful founding of Chortitza that encouraged expansion into the Molochna River region. By 1850, there were over 50 Mennonite villages south and east of Molochansk/Halbstadt.
