Chernyakhovsk is a town in Oblast Kaliningrad, Russia. Originally called Wystruc (Polish), Isruties (Lithuanian) or Insterburg (German) and part of East Prussia, it was captured by the Soviet Union and renamed Chernyakhovsk.
Insterburg was founded by the Teutonic Knights as a castle in 1336. The settlement came into existence nearby, this settlement was also called Insterburg after the castle. Town privileges were given to the settlement on 10 October 1583.
During the Second World War, the town was heavily damaged by British bombing on 27 July 1944. Insterburg was stormed by Soviet troops during 21 and 22 January 1945.
In 1946 the town name was changed into Chernyakhovsk, after a Soviet general.
Following its takeover, the Soviet Union ousted all East Prussians and brought in Russians, Byelorussians and Ukrainians.
After the fall of the Iron Curtain a group of people introduced the Akhal-Teke horse breed to the area and opened an Akhal-Teke breeding stable.