KOBELYAKI, a town of Russia, in the government of Poltava, 40 miles south-west of the government town, with a station on the railway between Kharkoff and Krementchug. The town proper is situated on the right bank of the Vorskla, but a suburb of some size, known simply as Zaryetchya or “Beyond the River,” lies on the other side. Of the 13,000 inhabitants more than half are occupied exclusively with agriculture; but weaving, introduced by German colonists, is beginning to be a considerable industry in the town. Kobelyaki was founded by the Polish nobleman Nemirovitch, and is mentioned as a town in 1647. In the neighbourhood lies the village of Perevo-lotchna, where the Swedish forces under Charles XII. laid down their arms.

KOBRIN, a town of Russia, in the government of Grodno, 12 miles east of Brest-Litovsk and 4 miles from the Tevli station of the railway between Minsk and Brest-Litovsk. It lies in the midst of a marshy country, to the east of which are extensive forests; although situated on the Mukhavetz river, which enters into the system of canals uniting the Dnieper and Bug, it enjoys but little prosperity. Its 8000 inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture; there is also some trade in grain, salt, timber, and bones. Kobrin was until the 16th century the capital of a principality of the same name.