Luhansk Oblast of Ukraine. Its administrative center is Luhansk. The oblast was established
in 1938 and bore the name Voroshilovgrad Oblast in honor of Kliment Voroshilov.
Important cities within the oblast include: Alchevsk, Antratsyt, Brianka, Kirovsk, Krasnyi
Luch, Krasnodon, Lysychansk, Luhansk, Pervomaisk, Rovenky, Rubizhne, Sverdlovsk, Sievierodonetsk,
Stakhanov. Due to the War in Donbass the administrative
center of the oblast was relocated to Sievierodonetsk.
Geography
Luhansk Oblast is located in eastern Ukraine. The area of the oblast, comprises about 4.42%
of the total area of the country. Its longitude from north to south is 250 km,
from east to west – 190 km. The oblast has the longest segment of the Ukrainian international
border with Russia among other regions consisting of 746 km. It borders the Belgorod and Voronezh
Oblasts of Russia on the north, while the Rostov Oblast is located to the east and the
south. Among Ukrainian regions, the oblast borders the Kharkiv and Donetsk Oblasts to
its west. The region is located in the valley of Siversky
Donets which splits the region approximately in half. The southern portion of the region
is elevated by the Donetsk Ridge which is located closer to the southern border. The
highest point is Mohyla Mechetna) which is the highest point of Donetsk Ridge.
The left bank of Siversky Donets is part of the Starobilsk Plain which to the north transforms
into the Central Russian Upland. History
The oblast was created in 1938 as Voroshylovhrad Oblast after the Donetsk Oblast was split
between Voroshylovhrad and Stalino oblasts. After the invasion of Nazi Germany, the region
was under a German military administration, due to its proximity to frontlines.
During the Soviet times the Oblast carried its current name between 1958 and 1970.
On April 8, 2014, following the 2014 Crimean Crisis, pro-Russian separatists occupying
the Luhansk Oblast administrative building planned to declare independence as the Luhansk
Parliamentary Republic, after other pro-Russian separatists declared Donetsk People's Republic
in the Donetsk Oblast. As the Luhansk Parliamentary Republic ceased to exist, the separatists
declared the Luhansk People's Republic and staged a referendum on separating from Ukraine
on May 11, 2014. The legitimacy of the referendums was not recognized by any government. Ukraine
does not recognize the referendum, while the EU and US said the polls were illegal. Subsequently,
the War in Donbass started. As a result of the War in Donbass Luhansk
insurgents control the southern 1/3 of the oblast which includes the city of Luhansk,
the region's most populous city as well as the capital of the oblast. Due to this most
government functions have been moved to Severodonetsk which was recaptured by the Government of
Ukraine in July 2014. Many universities located in the occupied areas have moved to government
controlled cities such as Severodonetsk, Starobelsk or Rubizhne.
Administrative subdivisions
Like the rest of the provinces in Ukraine, Luhansk Oblast has double jurisdiction. The
oblast is predominantly administrated by the Luhansk Oblast State Administration headed
by the governor of the oblast and appointed by the President of Ukraine. The province
also has a representative body, the provincial council, which is headed by its chairman and
elected by popular vote. The province is primarily divided into 18
raions, and 37 cities, including 14 cities of regional significance. The administrative
center is Luhansk. These are listed below with their areas and populations.
The province's secondary division consists of various municipalities. Those municipalities
may consist of one or more populated places. The municipalities are administratively subordinate
to the raion in which they are located, with the exception of 14 cities subordinated directly
to the oblast. In addition, the city of Luhansk is subdivided into its own four city-districts.
All subdivisions are governed by their respective councils.
Demographics
The population is largely Russian-speaking, although ethnic Ukrainians constitute a majority.
Among the minorities are native Russians, Belarusians, and others. Ukrainians constitute
the majority in all raions except for Stanytsia-Luhanska Raion and Krasnodon Raion, both of which are
east of Luhansk. Ethnic Russians also constitute the majority in regionally significant cities,
such as Krasnodon, Sverdlovsk, Krasnyi Luch and Stakhanov.
According to the 2001 Ukrainian Census, more than 68.8% of the population consider themselves
Russian speakers, while Ukrainian speakers were only 30.0%. The Russophone population
predominates in the southern portion of the region and around the city of Luhansk, while
the northern region is less populated, mostly agricultural and Ukrainophone.
Its population of 2,461,506 constitutes 5.13% of the overall Ukrainian population. The Luhansk
Oblast rates fifth in Ukraine by the number of its inhabitants, having an average population
density of 90.28/km². About 87% of the population lives in urban areas, while the remaining
13% reside in agricultural areas. According to the national census, 54% of the population
are Ukrainians and 42% are Russians.
Age structure 0-14 years: 12.3%
15-64 years: 71.4% 65 years and over: 16.3%
Median age total: 42.1 years
male: 38.2 years female: 45.9 years
Economy Economically the region is connected with
the Donets Basin. Extracting industry
Lysychansk Coal Luhansk Coal
Sverdlov Anthracite Anthracite
Pervomaisk Coal Rovenky Anthracite
Donbas Anthracite Machine building
Luhanskteplovoz Krasnyi Luch Machine building Factory
Pervomaisk Power mechanical Factory Stakhanov Railcar Plant
Metallurgy Alchevsk Metallurgy Combine
Alchevsk Coke-chemical Factory Chemical and oil refinery
Severdonetsk Association Azot Association Skloplastyk
Lysynchansk Oil Refinery Agriculture
Derkul Horse Factory Power generation
Sievierodonetsk Power Station Luhansk power station
Shteriv power station Transport
Through the region pass two major European routes E50 and E40. There are 24 international
border checkpoints of various entry. E50 within the Luhansk Oblast uses highway
M03 that starts from Debaltseve, passes through the city of Krasnyi Luch, and enters the Russian
Federation at the border checkpoint "Dolzhansky". E40 within the Luhansk Oblast uses highway
M03 that starts from Debaltseve, passes through the city of Luhansk, and enters the Russian
Federation at the border checkpoint "Izvaryne". There is also another highway H21 that runs
from north to south and connects Starobilsk, Luhansk, and Krasnyi Luch with Donetsk.
Rail transportation is administered by the Donetsk Railway.
There is also its regional airport Luhansk International Airport with its own carrier.
Education East Ukrainian National University
University of Luhansk Donbas State Technical University
Specialized Luhansk State Medical University
Luhansk National Agrarian University Luhansk State University of Internal Affairs
Points of interest
The following sites were nominated for the Seven Wonders of Ukraine.
The house of Dal's birth Fighters for the Revolution monument
Derkul horse factory Royal Rocks
Chasm Steppe Ram Foreheads
Mścichowski Palace See also
Luhansk status referendum, 2014 References
External links Official site of Luhansk Oblast Administration
Information Card of the Region – official site of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
The Official Site of the Radomysl Castle