Previous settlements at this location were called Sotsmistechko in the 1950s, and Atamanivka in the 1940s. Molodohvardiisk was originally established in 1955, named after the Young Guard resistance group. It was granted city status in 1961.[citation needed]
In January 1989 the population of the city was 31 766 people.[2]
In 2013 the population of the city was 23 332 people.[3]
Since 2014, Molodohvardiisk has been controlled by the Russian-controlled Luhansk People's Republic and not by Ukrainian authorities.[4]
On 19 September 2024, the Verkhovna Rada voted to rename Molodohvardiisk to Otamanivka.[5]