Uzhhorod

Uzhhorod is the regional capital in the far west of Ukraine, just a few kilometers from the Hungarian and Slovak borders. The settlement stretches along the Uzh River between wooded hills and spreads across both banks, linked by several bridges.

In the 8th century Slavic tribes built a fortified settlement here, which later passed between Hungarian and Ruthenian rule. Over the centuries the place belonged to Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the Soviet Union before becoming part of independent Ukraine in 1991.

The name comes from the Uzh River, which flows through the center and divides the two halves of the settlement. Today people with Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian and Ruthenian backgrounds live here, keeping their languages and traditions alive in daily routines.

The place has an international airport and a railway station with connections to Lviv and several Central European destinations. Border crossings to Hungary and Slovakia lie nearby and can be reached by local buses and taxis.

During the conflict starting in 2022 the city administration decided against nighttime curfews, allowing evening routines to continue. This decision makes the place the only regional capital in the country with streets and squares open throughout the night.