Melitopol is a city in the Zaporozhia Oblast of the southeastern Ukraine. The estimated population as of 2007 is around 158,700. It is situated on the Molochna River that flows through the eastern edge of the city and into the Molochnyi Liman, which eventually joins the Sea of Azov. The city was formerly named Kyzyl-Yar until 1816, and Novoalexandrovka until 1842. Serving as the administrative center of the Melitopolskyi Raion, the city itself is directly subordinate to the oblast center. Generally, the Russian language is spoken in the city.