Donetsk Oblast is an oblast of eastern Ukraine. It is the most populated
oblast, with around 4.5 million residents. Its administrative center is
Donetsk; however, its Regional State Administration was relocated to
Mariupol, a temporary measure due to the ongoing crisis in Donetsk. Historically,
the region is an important part of the Donbas region. Until November 1961, it
bore the name Stalino Oblast, as its capital Donetsk was named Stalino in
honour of Joseph Stalin at that time. The oblast is known for its urban sprawl
and is often associated with mining industry.
On April 7, 2014, following the 2014 Crimean crisis, separatists occupying
the Donetsk Oblast administrative building declared independence from
Ukraine and held a referendum on separating from Ukraine on May 11, 2014.
Subsequently, the War in Donbass started. After Donetsk was under control
of the separatist government, the Donetsk Oblast administration was
relocated to Mariupol, and later to Kramatorsk.
Geography Donetsk Oblast is located in
southeastern Ukraine. The area of the oblast, comprises about 4.4% of the
total area of the country. The oblast borders the Dnipropetrovsk and
Zaporizhia Oblasts on the southwest, the Kharkiv Oblast on the north, the Luhansk
Oblast on the northeast, the Rostov Oblast in Russia on the east, and with
the Sea of Azov on the south. Its longitude from north to south is 270
km, from east to west – 190 km. The extreme points of the oblast's borders
are: Bilosarayska Kosa on the south, Shevchenko of Velykonovosilkivskyi Raion
on the west, Verkhnyi Kut of Shakhtarskyi Raion on the east, and
Lozove of Krasnolymanskyi Raion on the north.
The state historic-architectural preserve near the city of Sviatohirsk
with the Sviatohirsk Lavra was nominated for the Seven Wonders of Ukraine.
Administrative divisions The province is primarily divided into
18 raions and 28 municipalities of equal status, including the provincial
administrative centre Donetsk. These are listed below with their areas and
populations. The province's secondary division
consists of various municipalities that are governed by their councils. Those
municipalities may consist of one or more populated places. All are
administratively subordinate to the raion in which they are located.
The following data incorporates the number of each type of second-level
administrative divisions of Donetsk Oblast:
total of Settlements – 1,283, including: Villages — 1,124;
Cities/Towns — 159, including: Urban-type settlement – 131;
Cities of raion subordinance — 24; Selsovets – N/A.
The local administration of the oblast' is controlled by the Donetsk Oblast
Rada. The governor of the oblast' is the Head of Donetsk Oblast administration,
appointed by the President of Ukraine. Demographics
In 2013 the population of Donetsk Oblast was 4.43 million, which constituted 10%
of the overall Ukrainian population, making it the most populous and most
densely populated region of the country. Its large population is due to the
presence of several big industrial cities and numerous villages
agglomerated around them. During the 2004 presidential election,
political supporters of Viktor Yanukovych threatened to demand autonomy
for Donetsk and neighbouring oblasts if the election of their candidate was not
recognised. However, no official moves were ever made.
At the 2001 Ukrainian National Census, the ethnic groups within the Donetsk
Oblast were: Ukrainians – 2,744,100, Russians – 1,844,400, Pontic Greeks –
77,500, Belarusians – 44,500, others. At the 2001 census, the languages spoken
within the oblast were: Russian — 74.9%, Ukrainian – 24.1%.
The oblast also contains 21% of the country's Muslims.
= Age structure = 0–14 years: 12.6%
15–64 years: 70.4% 65 years and over: 17.0%
= Median age = total: 41.9 years
male: 38.0 years female: 45.8 years
Economy = Industry =
The Donetsk Oblast covers more than one half coal, finished steel, coke, cast
iron and steel production in Ukraine. Ferrous metallurgy, fuel industry and
power industry are in demand in the structure of industry production. There
are about 882 industry enterprises that are on independent balance, and 2,095
small industry enterprises in the oblast.
The oblast' has a developed transport infrastructure which includes the
Donetsk railway, the Mariupol Port, the Donetsk International Airport, passenger
airports in Mariupol and Kramatorsk, and dense road systems. In the Donetsk
Oblast two special economic zones have been created, Donetsk and Azov, which
have a privileged tax regime. = Agriculture =
In 1999, the gross grain yield in the oblast was about 999.1 thousand tons,
sugar beets – 27.1 thousand tons, sunflower seeds – 309.4 thousand tons,
and potatoes – 380.2 thousand tons. Also, 134.2 thousand tons of meat, 494.3
thousand tons of milk and 646.4 million eggs have been produced. At the
beginning of 1999 there was 2108 farms within the oblast.
Ecology The Donetsk Oblast's climate is mostly
continental, which is characterised by hot summers and relatively cold winters
with changeable snow surfaces. East and southeast strong winds, high
temperatures and heavy rain showers are typical in the summer. The average
annual rainfall is 524 mm. The basic minerals found here are: coal,
rock salt, lime carbonate, potassium, mercury, asbestos, and graphite. The
area is also rich in fertile black earth.
Important resources for recreation within the area are: the mild climate,
the Sea of Azov coast, curative mud, sources of minerals, and radon and table
water. Due to these numerous recreation resources, many resort hotels and camps
are located here. There are about 26 health centres and pensions, 52 rest
homes and boarding houses, and rest camps for children in the oblast.
The curative areas in the oblast include the Slovyansk salt lakes and mineral
water sources. The oblast also contains many park zones, some of which are of
great national value. They include the Khomutivsky steppe and the Azov sea
coast. Overall, the Donetsk Oblast contains about 70 protected park and
nature attractions including branches of the Ukrainian steppe park, six state
reserves, ten memorials of nature, landscapes, and six park tracts.
Polls During the 1991 referendum, 83.90% of
votes in Donetsk Oblast were in favor of the Declaration of Independence of
Ukraine. A survey conducted in December 2014 by the Kyiv International Institute
of Sociology found 18.5% of the oblast's population supported their region
joining Russia, 53.8% did not support the idea, 22.5% were undecided, and 5.2%
did not respond; insurgent-controlled areas were not polled.
See also Subdivisions of Ukraine
Donets Basin List of cities in Donetsk Oblast
References External links