The development of the printing industry contributed to higher literacy Klintsov population.

In 1918 in accordance with Treaty of Brest-Litovsk the city was a part of the Ukrainian People's Republic, Chernigov province, Surazh district.

[citation needed] During World War II the city was occupied by German troops from August 20, 1941 to September 25, 1943.

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire that affected four large storage tanks at an oil depot 60 km from the Ukrainian border, collectively holding 6,000 m3 (1,600,000 US gal) of oil.

[12] It is also the birthplace of the artist Jacob Kramer, who later emigrated to England to escape anti-semitic persecution.