Sudak. Map: IX-15. A city (2001 pop 15,500) on the Black Sea coast (see Crimean southern shore) and a raion center in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. A fortress called Sugdei was built there in 212. At the end of the 8th century it became an important seaport, which maintained economic ties with Byzantium. In the Kyivan Rus’ documents it was called Surozh. In the 13th century it became part of the Crimean Khanate, and in 1365, a Genoese trading colony called Soldaia. The Genoese built a fortress with 16 turrets and a church, remnants of which have been preserved. In 1475 Sudak was annexed by Turkey, and in 1783, by Russia. Sudak was granted city status in 1982. Most of the inhabitants are employed in the city's health resorts.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 5 (1993).]