Ananiv

Ananiiv is located in the southeastern part of Podolian Upland.^[4]

Ananiiv was founded in the mid-18th century, when the territory belonged to the Ottoman Empire. In 1792 it came under Russian rule according to the Treaty of Jassy and became a povit centre of Kherson Governorate. The town's development was sow due to its remoteness from main railways.^[4] From 1924 to 1940 it belonged to Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1932 the town was estimated to have 19,000 inhabitants. In the 20th century Ananiiv and the surrounding areas served as a centre of gardening, viticulture and food industry. Two museum functioned in the town.^[4]

Until 18 July 2020, Ananiv was the administrative center of Ananiv Raion. The raion was abolished in July 2020 as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Odesa Oblast to seven. The area of Ananiv Raion was merged into Podilsk Raion.^[5][6]

Jewish history

Jews settled in Ananiv since the 19th century. In 1820, the Jewish community in town owned a synagogue and a cemetery,^[7] which no longer exists, though the new cemetery from the 20th century can be visited.^[8] The Surnames on the gravestones are still visible and documented online.^[9] Photos of the town Jews from the beginning of the 20th century are also visible online.^[10] In April 1887, a mob attacked and destroyed 175 Jewish homes and 14 shops.^[8]

In 1897, 50% of the town population was Jewish.^[11] During 1919, two pogroms in town resulted in more than 40 dead Jews.^[11] Under Romanian occupation, more than 330 of the town Jews were killed by Einsatzgruppen 10b.^[12] In October 1941, 300 out of the 445 left town. Jews were murdered in nearby Mostove, and the rest a month later in Gvozdiovka. One of these two mass graves is signed^[13] in Ukrainian and open to public.^[14] In 1990, 30 Jews lived in Ananiv.^[8]

According to the 2001 Ukrainian census, Ananiv had a population of 9,355 inhabitants. Ethnic Ukrainians account for almost 90% of the population, 7% declared an ethnic Russian background, and a bit less than 4% of the population referred to themselves as Moldovans. The exact distribution of the population by ethnicity was:^[15]

• Mykola Vilinsky

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  Men's gymnasium
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  County hospital in Ananiv
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  House of Culture (former Noble Assembly)
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  District court
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  Residential houses
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  Monument to Petro Nishchynskyi in the city of Ananiv