Kirishi (, ) is a town and the administrative center of Kirishsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Volkhov River, southeast of St. Petersburg. Population: It was previously known as Soltsy (until 1931). Etymology The name of the town originates from the Kirisha River (previously known as Kiresha), a tributary of the Volkhov River. History It was first mentioned in 1693. Since 1727, it was a part of Novoladozhsky Uyezd of Novgorod Governorate, later of St. Petersburg Governorate. In 1922–1923, the uyezd was renamed Volkhovsky. Before 1931, Kirishi was known as Soltsy. On August 1, 1927, the uyezds were abolished and Andreyevsky District, with the administrative center in the selo of Andreyevo, was established. The governorates were also abolished and the district became a part of Leningrad Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. Kirishi became a part of Andreyevsky District. On September 30, 1931, the administrative center of the district was moved to Kirishi and the district was renamed Kirishsky. On December 27, 1933 Kirishi was granted urban-type settlement status. Kirishi was occupied for two years during World War II and completely destroyed in 1943, so that on February 19, 1944 the administrative center of the district was moved to the urban-type settlement of Budogoshch. In 1960, Kirishi was rebuilt and the Kirishi oil refinery was constructed. On February 1, 1963, the district was abolished and merged into Volkhovsky District but on January 12, 1965 it was re-established. Kirishi was granted town status and made the administrative center of the district. On January 26, 1967, Kirishi became a town of oblast significance. In 2010, the administrative structure of Leningrad Oblast was harmonized with its municipal structure, and Kirishi became a town of district significance. Administrative and municipal status Within the framework of administrative divisions, Kirishi serves as the administrative center of Kirishsky District. As an administrative division, it is incorporated within Kirishsky District as Kirishskoye Settlement Municipal Formation. As a municipal division, Kirishskoye Settlement Municipal Formation is incorporated within Kirishsky Municipal District as Kirishskoye Urban Settlement. Economy In 1974, a "BVK" (belkovo-vitaminny kontsentrat, i.e., "protein-vitamin concentrate") production facility was constructed next to the oil refinery. This was the USSR Ministry of Microbiological Industry's second plant of this kind (after the one in Kstovo, opened in 1973). It used n-paraffins (byproducts of oil refining) as feedstock for yeast, which in its turn produced single-cell protein, used as