Pinsk, city, southwestern Belarus, situated at the confluence of the Pina and Pripet rivers. Pinsk was first mentioned in 1097 and was the seat of a Russian princedom. It passed successively under Lithuanian (13th–16th century), Polish (1569–1793), Russian (1793–World War I), Polish (1920–39), and then Soviet rule (with German occupation during 1941–44). Pinsk lies at the eastern end of the Dnieper-Bug Canal. There are woodworking industries, metalworking, manufacture of artificial leather, and shipbuilding and repair yards. Pop. (2006 est.) 129,600.