Pochinok

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Pochinok (Russian: Почи́нок) is a town in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Khmara River (Dnieper basin) some 62 kilometers (39 mi) southeast of Smolensk. Population: 9,500 (2005 est.); 9,578 (2002 Census); 10,753 (1989 Census).

Pochinok was founded in 1868 as a railway station on the Riga–Oryol railroad. It was named after one of the many pochinok villages in the Smolensk region. The old Russian word pochinok (починок) means "a new settlement or village built on a clear spot". Pochinok was granted town status in 1926. Since the Cold War, nearby Shatalovo air base has been a major training and operations facility for Soviet Air Force and Russian Air Force combat crews.

The most famous native son of Pochinok was the artist and designer El Lissitsky.