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A major industrial centre of Ukraine, Dnipropetrovs'k was one of the key centers of the nuclear, arms and space industries of the former Soviet Union. In particular, it is a home to the major space and ballistic missiles manufacturer&designer called "Yuzhmash" .
Dnipropetrovs'k has a highly-developed transportation system, including one metro line with 6 stations.
The city was founded in 18th century following the southern expansion of Russian Empire. Its former name Yekaterinoslav means "The glory of Yekaterina" in Russian (meaning Catherine the Great). Its pre-history is older and dates back to the Cossack times.
In XX-XXI centuries, the economic potential of the city defines its political importance. Dnipropetrovs'k and surrounding oblast' are a birthplace of the so-called "Dnipropetrovs'k clan" - an influential informal political group inside CPSU, based on the industrial and party elite. The group was formed by Leonid BrezhnevLeonid Ilyich Brezhnev ( Russian: ) ( December 19, 1906 November 10, 1982) was effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, though at first in partnership with others. He was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964 (born in neighboring Dniprodzerzhyns'k ) and raised to the highest levels of SovietThere are two main meanings to the word soviet Soviet (council) can mean a council of workers, a term that was used from the late Imperial Russia days. After the October Revolution, soviets (councils) became the main form of government at all levels: ente power. The representatives of the clan are said to be ruling USSR until Gorbachev's era, and Ukrainian SSRCOA ( In Detail) (In Detail) State motto: , ! Official language None. According to the constitution, all languages were equal. However, Russian was supposed to be the language of international communication, thus putting Ukrainian at a disadvantage. Capit in particular. Nowadays, the most influential representative of that clan is Leonid KuchmaLeonid Danylovych Kuchma (born August 9, 1938) has been the President of Ukraine since 1994. Kuchma was born in Chaikyne village in the Chernihiv region. His father was killed at the front in 1944, during World War II. Kuchma studied at Dnipropetrovs'k un, the current president of Ukraine, earlier a senior manager of "Yuzhmash".
In middle 1990s, a tram derailed on one of the city's streets causing deaths. That accident has had a significant effect on the worldwide discussion regarding use of trams in the hilly localities.