Until 18 July 2020, Liubotyn was incorporated as acity of oblast significance and the center of Liubotyn Municipality. The municipality was abolished in July 2020 as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Kharkiv Oblast to seven. The area of Liubotyn Municipality was merged into Kharkiv Raion.[3][4]
DuringWorld War II, Liubotyn was underGerman occupation from 20 October 1941 to 22 February 1943 and again from 9 March to 29 August 1943.
On June 19, 2022, at about 23:30, the Russian military fired a rocket at Liubotyn. As a result of two explosions, the lyceum of railway transport, where the center for the distribution of humanitarian aid was located, was damaged. A number of private houses were damaged by the shock wave and debris.[5][6]
The central square in Liubotyn is Soborna Square. It is the central park, next to which is the old princely park of the early 19th century in the English style. The park has many entertainment venues and a memorial to those who died in World War II, built in 2006.[7] The city's pride is the longest covered pedestrian railway bridge in Europe, with a total length of 260 meters. There are three Orthodox churches in the city: in Staryi Liubotyn (early 19th century), inHiiivka (early 19th century), and in the city center (early 20th century).
The city has traditionally served as an importantrailway junction, hosting a number of railroad transport enterprises, as well as a brick factory and a spiritsdistillery.[8]
The following people have been born or have lived in Liubotyn:
D. S. Mirsky — Russian political and literary historian born in the former Giyovka estate.
Oleg Khudolii — Ukrainian researcher, Doctor of Physical Education and Sports, full professor, academician of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Oleg Goltvyansky (1980) — is a Ukrainian far-right politician and the leader of political partyUkrainian National Union. He was the commander of the volunteer Pechersk Battalion.
Roman Kost (1984) — Ukrainian sculptor, master of artistic forging.