The city of regional significance in the Kiev region of Ukraine, the administrative center Belotserkovsky area. Located about 80 km from Kiev on the River Ros. The population of 205 thousand inhabitants. The city was founded in 1032 by the Kiev prince Yaroslav the Wise and originally named Yuriev Russian (from the Orthodox NovSU - Yuri given to him at baptism). In 1050 the city built the Episcopal Church, the local folk had nicknamed her "white church", and hence came the name of the city. In 1240, during the Mongol invasion the town was destroyed by it were only the ruins of the church, around which again revived the town. Since 1363, the city is located in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, from 1569 the city passed to Poland. In 1596, near White Church, the battle was fought, during which the Polish army was defeated by the Cossacks, Severin Nalivaiko. In 1651 after the battle here was signed between Poland and the rebellious Ukrainian Cossacks under Bohdan Khmelnytsky. At the end of XVI century, the city received a Magdeburg right. In 1712, the city is coming back to Poland, and in 1774, the last Polish king Stanislaw August transmits it as a gift corona Hetman Francois-Xavier Branicki. It is on his tools and built structures, which are then considered dosih ornament of the city. Thanks to the Getman's wife, Alexandra Branitskaya, the White Church, there is a park that was once considered one of the most beautiful parts of the Russian Empire and now, not lost its magic. After the second partition of Poland in 1793 the city became part of the Russian Empire. In the XIX century white church became important district town. During Soviet times, the city has been transformed into an important industrial center (machine building, construction industry). In 1796, near White Church happened fall of a meteorite weighing more than half kilo. During World War II the city was in occupation of 950 days. During this period the city was almost completely destroyed, the population dropped to 40,000. During the occupation of the White Church in 1941 there were killed Jewish children. Until 1946 the town was completely rebuilt and is now the center of an active cultural and political life.