Shostka (Ukrainian and Russian: Шостка) is a town in Sumy Oblast in north-east of Ukraine. The population is 85,800 (2004). The town lies on the river Shostka, a tributary of Desna, from which it gets its name. Shostka is an important centre of industry; in chemicals (see Svema) and in dairy: Shostka City Milk Plant was recently acquired by Fromageries Bel.
Shostka started out as a village at the beginning of the 17th century for Ukrainian Cossacks which were based there. In 1739, a gunpowder factory was built there. Since that time Shostka was one of the most important gunpowder suppliers in the Russian Empire. In 1893, a branch of a nearby railroad line was built. Shostka was granted municipal rights in 1920. In 1931, a film factory was built in Shostka which was one of the main suppliers of cinema and photo film in the USSR.
Shostka's population: 1926 - 8,600 inhabitants, 1959 - 39,000 inhabitants, 1970 - 64,000 inhabitants, 1979 - 80,000 inhabitants, 1984 - 84,000 inhabitants
Shostka is home to the Ukrainian football team Impuls Shostka.
Shostka is the hometown of the fictional Mousekewitz family in the animated film An American Tail.
