Melitopol, city, southeastern Ukraine, on the Molochna River. The frontier settlement of Novooleksandrivka grew up in the late 18th century, and in 1841 it became the city of Melitopol. The centre of a fruit-growing area, Melitopol has been the site of engineering plants and light industries. Pop. (2001) 160,657; (2005 est.) 159,288.