Zhabinka

Zhabinka (Жабінка, ; Жабинка; זשאבינקע; Żabinka) is a town in Brest Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Zhabinka District. As of 2024, it has a population of 14,418.

History
Within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Zhabinka was a part of Brest Litovsk Voivodeship. In 1795, Zhabinka was acquired by the Russian Empire as a result of the Third Partition of Poland. The name of the place was first mentioned in Russian official papers in 1817.

In 1882, a railway station was built here on the railway line that connected Warsaw, Brest and Moscow. It gave a powerful impetus to the development of the place. Within two decades Zhabinka turned from a village into a town, attracting people of commerce, after the station boosted the economic development of the place.

On July 30, the 63rd Infantry Regiment of the Polesie Group, stationed near Żabinka, engaged with units from the Soviet 10th Rifle Division as part of their withdrawal to the Brest area. At Żabinka, the battalions of the 63rd Infantry Regiment achieved a spectacular victory, launching attacks from multiple sides. The Soviet 10th Rifle Division suffered a severe defeat, losing prisoners and 12 machine guns.

From 1921 until 1939, Zhabinka was part of the Second Polish Republic. In September 1939, Zhabinka was occupied by the Red Army and, on 14 November 1939, incorporated into the Byelorussian SSR.

From 23 June 1941 until 21 July 1944, Zhabinka was occupied by Nazi Germany and administered as a part of the Generalbezirk Wolhynien-Podolien of Reichskommissariat Ukraine.

For 125 years, the town has been sprawling along the road from the railway station southwards to the highway Brest-Moscow, that is the major transcontinental traffic artery E30 today. After World War II a big sugar refinery was built north of the railway line. A big settlement appeared around it.

Today Kirov Street starts form the railway station, runs across the town center with a big square and a park, further on southwards to the highway.

Notable people
In 2004, a Polish woman named Floria Budziszewska, who risked her life to save two Jewish children in Zhabinka, was posthumously awarded the Righteous Among Nations title.

Geography
Žabinka is located on the Mukhavets River at the confluence of the tiny Zhabinka River, which is considered rather a creek. The town has the biggest in the district water reservoir Vizzhar (25 ha), which is located in the western part of the town.

There is a big square and a park in the center of the town.

The town occupies 9.11 km2.