Volgograd
Volgograd (Russian: Волгогра́д, IPA: ( listen)), formerly
Tsaritsyn (Russian: Цари́цын (help·info)), 1589–1925, and
Stalingrad (Russian: Сталингра́д (help·info)), 1925–1961, is an important industrial city and the administrative center of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. It is 80 kilometers (50 mi) long, north to south. It is situated on the western bank of the Volga River. The population is 1,021,215 (2010 Census); 1,011,417 (2002 Census); 1,022,578 (1989 Census). The city became famous for its resistance, and the extensive physical damage and death toll it suffered, during the Battle of Stalingrad against the German Army in World War II. Starting in 2013, for nine days every year, the city may be officially referred to as "Stalingrad". There is a debate in the city regarding if the city should be permanently renamed "Stalingrad", president Vladimir Putin has expressed that such a move should be preceded by a local referendum.