Melitopol (Ukrainian: Меліто́поль, translit. Melitópol’, Russian: Мелитополь) is a city in Zaporizhia Oblast (region) of southeastern Ukraine. It is situated on the Molochna River that flows through the eastern edge of the city and into the Molochnyi Liman, which eventually joins the Sea of Azov. Its population is approximately . Melitopol is incorporated as a city of oblast significance and is the second largest city in the oblast after Zaporizhia. It serves as the administrative center of Melitopol Raion, though it does not belong to the raion. The city is located at the crossing of two major European highways E58 Vienna - Uzhhorod - Kyiv - Rostov-on-Don and E105 Kirkenes - St. Petersburg - Moscow - Kyiv - Yalta. An electrified railway line of international importance goes through Melitopol. The city is called "the gateway to the Crimea", prior to the 2014 Russian occupation of Crimea 80% of passenger trains heading to the peninsula passed through the city and during summer road traffic would reach 45 000 vehicles per day.
