Ryazan, Central Federal District, Russia

🇷🇺 Ryazan (Рязань) is the largest city and administrative centre of Ryazan Oblast, Russia. The city is located on the banks of the Oka River in Central Russia, 196 km (122 mi) south-east of Moscow. Ryazan is one of the oldest cities of Russia.

Ryazan is the 33rd most populated city in Russia, and the 4th most populated in Central Russia after Moscow, Voronezh, and Yaroslavl.

An older city, now named Old Ryazan (Старая Рязань), was located 50 km east of modern-day Ryazan during the late Middle Ages, and served as capital of the Principality of Ryazan up until the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' in 1237. During the Siege of Ryazan it became one of the first cities in Russia to be besieged and completely razed to the ground. The capital was subsequently moved to Peryslavl-Ryazansky (Переяславль-Рязанский), and later renamed to Ryazan by order of Catherine the Great in 1778. The Old Ryazan, however, was never rebuilt.

The city is known for the Ryazan Kremlin, a historic museum; the Pozhalostin Museum, one of the oldest art museums in Russia; the Memorial Museum-Estate of Academician I.P. Pavlov; and the Ryazan Museum of Long-Range Aviation.

Economy Major industry enterprises in the city include a military radio electronics production plant and an oil refinery (subsidiary of Rosneft, JSC Ryazan Oil Refining Company). The plant can refine 17 million metric tons of oil per year and is the city's largest employer.

Around a quarter of the city's population works in the electronics industry. The most notable company in this sector is Plazma, which produces plasma screens for products including tanks and locomotives. In 1994, the company created a 50-50 research and development joint-venture with the South Korean company Orion PDP. In addition to plasma technology, Plazma produces LCD screens, industrial gas lasers and medical lasers. The company exports its products to the United States, China, and Israel, among others.

In 1993 software development company EPAM Systems entered the Ryazan market. As of 2016 it worked in joint venture with RSREU helping to teach students for free.

In 2012 Russian search giant Yandex launched the 40MW data centre in Sasovo; it is expected to accommodate 100,000 servers by 2019.

A steel casting company in the north-western section of the city produces heavy steelworks and product, including industrial steel pipes for use in nuclear power plants. The plant employs a centrifugal casting method.

Transport A railway connects city to the Moscow (since 1864) via two train stations: Ryazan I and Ryazan II; both of which are part of the Ryazan railroad transit system within the city's borders.

Airports The Dyagilevo strategic bomber base is just west of the city, and the Alexandrovo air base is to the south-east, as is Turlatovo Airport.