Southern Bug

Southern Bug

It originates in the Podillia region (Khmelnytskyi Oblast) and flows into the Bug Estuary of the Black Sea. With a total length of 806 km, it is the third longest river within Ukraine (after the Dnipro and the Dniester), and the longest river that flows entirely within Ukrainian territory.

Over the centuries, the river was known by various names: the ancient Greeks called it Hypanis or Ipanis, the Ottomans referred to it as Ak-su (“white water”), and the Slavs called it Boh, likely meaning “rich” or “the one that flows through fertile land.”

The Southern Bug passes through several major cities, including Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Pervomaisk, Yuzhnoukrainsk, and Mykolaiv, serving as a source of water supply, hydroelectric power, and recreational opportunities. Several hydroelectric plants are located on the river, including the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant, which uses its water for cooling purposes.