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The '''Dnieper River''', ([[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: ''Dnipro'', [[Russian language|Russian]]: ''Dnepr'', [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]: ''Dnyapro'', ancient [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Borysthenes'') is the fourth longest river in Europe with a total length of 1,367 miles (2,200 km).<ref>https://www.britannica.com/place/Dnieper-River</ref> The Dnieper River has played a major role in [[Russian]] and [[Ukrainian]] history.

The '''Dnieper River''', ([[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: ''Dnipro'', [[Russian language|Russian]]: ''Dnepr'', [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]: ''Dnyapro'', ancient [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Borysthenes'') is the fourth longest river in [[Europe]] with a total length of 1,367 miles (2,200 km).<ref>https://www.britannica.com/place/Dnieper-River</ref> The Dnieper River has played a major role in [[Russian]] and Eastern European history.

The first Russian state of [[Kievan Rus]] rose from the city-state of [[Kiev]], founded by [[Viking]]s as a result of the early small port town‘s location on the great north-south water route, the Amber Road, flowing between [[Scandinavia]] (the [[Swedish]] Viking [[Varangian]]s) and [[Byzantian]] [[Constantinople]]. Thus, the Dnieper gave birth to ‚the mother of Russian cities‘ and connected Kievan Rus to what would become the source of much of Russian culture: [[Greek]] or [[Eastern Orthodoxy]].  

The first Russian state of [[Kievan Rus]] rose from the city-state of [[Kiev]], founded by [[Viking]]s as a result of the early small port town‘s location on the great north-south water route, the Amber Road, flowing between [[Scandinavia]] (the [[Swedish]] Viking [[Varangian]]s) and [[Byzantian]] [[Constantinople]]. Thus, the Dnieper gave birth to‚ the mother of Russian cities‘ and connected Kievan Rus to what would become the source of much of Russian culture: [[Greek]] or [[Eastern Orthodoxy]].  

The [[Zaporozhian Cossacks]], famous in Russia and Ukraine, as well as other Cossack formations, were located on the Dnieper, the [[Zaporozhia]]ns in the marshes and islands on the Lower Dniper near its [[Black Sea]] estuary. The Dnieper became the dividing line between [[Polish]]- and Russian-controlled Ukrainian‘ lands, with the western side of what today is Ukraine called the‚ Right Bank Ukraine‘ and the eastern side known as‚ Left Bank Ukraine. In the [[Soviet]] era, the Dniper’s six major [[hydroelectric]] stations and damns were symbols of [[communist]] modernization. One is featured near the end of [[Boris Pasternak]]’s famous novel ''[[Doctor Zhivago]]'', as well as in the [[British]] film version of the novel.  

The [[Zaporozhian Cossacks]], famous in Russia and Ukraine, as well as other Cossack formations, were located on the Dnieper, the [[Zaporozhia]]ns in the marshes and islands on the Lower Dniper near its [[Black Sea]] estuary. The Dnieper became the dividing line or outskirts (''okraina'') of the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] - and the [[Russian Empire]], with the western side called the Right Bank and the eastern side known as the Left Bank. In the [[Soviet]] era, the Dniper’s six major [[hydroelectric]] stations and damns were symbols of [[communist]] modernization. One is featured near the end of [[Boris Pasternak]]’s famous novel ''[[Doctor Zhivago]]'', as well as in the [[British]] film version of the novel.  

The Dnieper was the focus of great battles during what Russians call the [[Great Patriotic War]] and what others call [[World War II]]. Following the largest tank battle in history at [[Kursk]], the Battle for Dnieper was one of the largest operations of the [[war]], involving four million troops, stretching over nearly 900 miles of front, and lasting over four months in 1943. It opened the way to the liberation of Kiev from the [[Nazi]] [[fascist]] army on 28 October 1944.

The Dnieper was the focus of great battles during what Russians call the [[Great Patriotic War]] and what [[the West]] calls [[World War II]]. Following the largest tank battle in history at [[Kursk]], the Battle for Dnieper was one of the largest operations of the [[war]], involving four million troops, stretching over nearly 900 miles of front, and lasting over four months in 1943. It opened the way to the liberation of Kiev from the [[Nazi]] [[fascist]] army on 28 October 1944.

The Dnieper – more accurately one of its tributaries, the Pripyat – was the locus of the world’s first great [[nuclear]] disaster in 1986 at [[Chernobyl]]. The poetic Ukrainian name for the river, Slavutych or Slavuta, taken from an ancient Kievan Rus name for the river became the name of the town used to house displaced Chernobyl nuclear power plant workers.  

The Dnieper – more accurately one of its tributaries, the Pripyat – was the locus of the world’s first great [[nuclear]] disaster in 1986 at [[Chernobyl]]. The poetic Ukrainian name for the river, Slavutych or Slavuta, taken from an ancient Kievan Rus name for the river became the name of the town used to house displaced Chernobyl nuclear power plant workers.