Kharkiv or Kharkov (Харків, Харьков) is the second largest city in Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Kharkiv Oblast (province), as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Kharkivskyi Raion (district) within the oblast. The city is located in the northeast of the country at around . As of 2006, its population is 1,461,300. Kharkiv is one of the main industrial, cultural and educational centres of Ukraine. Its industry and research specialize in arms production and machinery. There are hundreds of industrial companies in the city. Among them are world famous giants like the Morozov Design Bureau and the Malyshev Tank Factory, leaders in tank production since the 1930s; Hartron (aerospace and nuclear electronics); and the Turboatom turbines producer.

There is also an underground rapid-transit system with about 35 km of track and 28 stations. Another landmark of Kharkiv is its Freedom Square (Ploshcha Svobody), which is currently the third largest city square in Europe, and the 5th largest square in the world.