History of Akkerman

In the 6th century BC, Milesian colonists founded a settlement named Tyras on the future location of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, one which later came under Roman and Byzantine rule. The Byzantines built the fortress and named it Asprocastron ("White Castle" - a meaning kept in several languages). The Voskresensk Chronicle lists Belgorod "at the mouth of the Dniester, above the sea" among the towns controlled by Kievan Rus.
In 14th century the city was briefly controlled by the Republic of Genoa and by King Louis I of Hungary. Sfântul Ioan cel Nou (Saint John the New), the protector of Moldavia, was martyred in the city in 1330 during a Tatar incursion. In 1391, Cetatea Albă was the last city on the right bank of the Dnister to be incorporated into the newly-established principality of Moldavia, and for the next century was its second major city, the major port and an important fortress, serving as the capital of Ţara de Jos (the "Lower Country"), one of the two divisions of Moldavia (alongside Bukovina).
In 1420, it was attacked for the first time by the Ottomans, but defended successfully by Moldavian Prince Alexander the Kind.
In 1484, along with Kilia, it was the last of Black Sea ports to be conquered by the Ottomans. The Moldavian prince Stephen the Great was unable to aid in its defence, being under threat of a Polish invasion. The citadel surrendered when the Ottomans claimed to have reached an agreement with Prince Stephen, and promised safe passage to the inhabitants and their belongings; however, most of the city dwellers were slaughtered. Later, attempts by Stephen the Great to restore his rule over the area were unsuccessful. Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi was subsequently a base from which the Ottomans were able to attack Moldavia proper.
Under the walls of the fortress
It was established as the fortress of Akkerman, part of the Ottoman defensive system against Poland-Lithuania and, later, the Russian Empire. Major battles between the Ottomans and the Russians were fought near Bilhorod in 1770 and 1789. Russia conquered the town in 1770, 1774, and 1806, but returned it after the conclusion of hostilities. It was not incorporated into Russia until 1812, along with the rest of Bessarabia.
On September 25, 1826, Russia and the Ottomans signed the Akkerman Convention which imposed that the hospodars of Moldavia and Wallachia be elected by their respective Divans for seven-year terms, with the approval of both Powers. It also imposed the retreat of Ottoman forces from both countries after their prolonged stay following military actions in 1821 (that were carried in response to the Philikí Etaireía in the Greek War of Independence), and Tudor Vladimirescu's actions. The Ottomans also agreed to cede to Wallachia the control over the Danube ports of Giurgiu, Brăila and Turnu. The provisions regarding the hospodars were never implemented, due to the Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829 and the subsequent period of Russian presence in the Danubian Principalities (see Regulamentul Organic).
In 1918 Bilhorod, along with the rest of Bessarabia, became part of Romania. In the interwar period, projects aimed to expand the city and port were reviewed. Romania ceded the city to the Soviet Union following the 1940 Soviet Ultimatum but recaptured it in 1941 during the invasion of the USSR by the Axis forces in the course of the Second World War and held it until 1944 when the Red Army advance re-established the Soviet control over the area. The Soviets divided Bessarabia and its southern sides (including Bilhorod) became part of the Ukrainian SSR, and after 1991, of nowadays Ukraine.
According to the 2001 Ukrainian census, the majority of city population are Ukrainians. The rest are Russians (28%), Bulgarians (4%) and Moldovans (2%).