Bryansk:
Bryansk is a city in Russia, 379 km South-East from Moscow. It is the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast. The city was founded in 985 as a military settlement on the right bank of Desna River. It was first mentioned in written records in 1146 as Dobryansk. Population is 458,000 (2000).
Today Bryansk is an important center for steel and machinery manufacturing, and is home to many large factories. Railway wagons and locomotives are important products. Bryansk also has two universities, three theatres and a technical academy. The city and the region was mildly affected by the Chernobyl accident. The city has a developed Trolley bus network and is a hub of several road and rail connections.
Russian cosmonaut Viktor M. Afanasyev, shot put athlete Svetlana Krivelyova, sculptor and the architect Naum Gabo, and classical pianist Valentina Igoshina were born in Bryansk. Bulgarian communist leader Stanke Dimitrov (Marek) died in an aviation accident near the city.
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