Tokmak (Ukrainian: Токмак, IPA: [tokˈmɑk]) is a small city in Polohy Raion, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in south-central Ukraine.

[citation needed] From the archival documents of the Zaporizhian Sich (mid-18th century), it is known that there were seasonal deployments of the Cossack Kurins along the Tokmak River where they engaged in fishing and hunting.

[citation needed] The official year of the foundation of Tokmak is 1784, which coincides with the conquest of Crimea by the Russian Empire and the formation of the Taurida Oblast.

Intensive settlement of the region began after the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792), when several families descended from Zaporozhian Cossacks and state serfs from the area of Poltava settled on the banks of the Tokmak River.

[citation needed] Its rapid growth was facilitated by the existence of a trade route known as the "Old Chumatsky Road" that passed through the area.

In 1796, Tokmak was appointed the center of the Melitopolsky Uyezd (Melitopol District) of the Taurida Oblast.

[4] In the summer of 1842, a strong fire broke out in the city of Orikhiv, and the administrative offices were again transferred to Velykyi Tokmak.

[5] In 1861, the settlement was granted the status of a small town and became part of the Berdyan district of the Tavrya province.

The goods were sold during the spring (9 May) and autumn (1 October) fairs, which included merchants from places such as Moscow, Kursk, and Berdyansk.

On the eve of the First World War, local manufacturers and merchants built the railway line between Tsarekostyantynivka (Komysh-Zoria) and Fedorivka station [uk] (Novobohdanivka [uk]), and the Velikiy Tokmak station on it, which further contributed to the growth of trade and the development of the city.

At that time, there was a small printing house, two photographic studios, a hospital with 15 beds, and 5 elementary schools in Tokmak.

In 1917, the publication of the local newspaper "News of the Bolshoi Tokmak Council of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies" began.

[8] For the original design and its high productivity, the factory staff were awarded a state diploma of the 1st degree.

275 which renamed five streets in the city of Tokmak: On 12 June 2020, in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine's Order No.

[15] According to a report from the Zaporizhzhia State Administration, as a result of the confrontation, the enemy lost a large number of personnel and retreated to the southern outskirts of the city.

[19] An unknown number of citizens reportedly held rallies against the occupation of the Russian military throughout the rest of March.

[20][21] On 3 April 2022, it was reported that the Russian military intended to hold a "referendum" in the city of Tokmak.

[22] On 21 April 2022, Russian singer Yulia Chicherina took part in the lighting of the eternal flame near the Tokmak memorial to the fallen participants of the Second World War.

The cause of Kotelevsky's death is unknown, but "Ukrinform" noted at the time that, according to the unofficial version, he allegedly committed suicide.

[24][25][26] Near the end of June, 2022, there were reports of Russian soldiers dismantling the Tokmak solar power plant and relocating it to Russia.

[30] This prediction turned out to be correct, and the fortifications succeeded in their goal as the counteroffensive failed to penetrate the line and fell short of reaching Tokmak, with small scale Russian offensive operations eventually restarting in February 2024 in and around Robotyne, just north of the first defensive belt.

The decorative and applied art works of embroiderers V. M. Melai and Z. P. Fedan and the basket weaving of V. D. Olyzko were demonstrated at exhibitions in the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv.