of the Poltava-Kharkiv line was completed in August 2008. The Avtovokzal serves as the city's intercity bus station. Buses for local municipal routes depart from "AC-2" (autostation No. 2 – along Shevchenko street) and "AC-3" (Zinkivska street). Local municipal routes are parked along the Taras Shevchenko Street. Marshrutka minibuses serve areas where regular bus access is unavailable; however, they are privately owned and cost more per ride. In addition, a 10-route trolleybus network of runs throughout the city. On the routes of the city go more than 50 units of trolleybuses. Poltava is also served by an International Airport, situated outside the city limits near the village of Ivashky. The international highway M03, linking Poltava with Kyiv and Kharkiv, passes through the southern outskirts of the city. There is also a regional highway P-17 crossing Poltava and linking it with Kremenchuk and Sumy. Education Poltava has always been one of the most important science and education centres in Ukraine. Major universities and institutions of higher education include the following: Poltava National Pedagogical University named after V. G. Korolenko National University "Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic" Poltava Agrarian State Academy Poltava State Medical University Poltava University of Economics and Trade Poltava Military Institute of Connections Poltava Law Institute of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University Poltava branch of the State Academy of Statistics, region and audit to the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine Astronomy Poltava gravimetric observatory (PGO) is situated a bit north from city centre (27–29 Miasoyedov St.). Its main work directions are measurements of Earth rotation, latitude variations (applying zenith stars observations, lunar occultation observations and other) Observational station of PGO in rural area, some 20 km east along the M03-E40 highway. Radiotelescope URAN-2 (Ukrainian: УРАН-2) is situated there too. International relations Poltava is twinned with: Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria (1963) Filderstadt, Germany Ostfildern, Germany Irondequoit, United States Kristianstad, Sweden Gallery References External links The murder of the Jews of Poltava during World War II, at Yad Vashem website. Cities in Poltava Oblast Poltavsky Uyezd Kiev Voivodeship Cossack Hetmanate Cities of regional significance in Ukraine Holocaust locations in Ukraine Oblast centers in Ukraine Populated places established in the 9th century