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Donetsk Oblast

Donetsk Oblast
Донецька область
Donets'ka oblast’
Oblast
Flag of Donetsk Oblast
Flag
Coat of arms of Donetsk Oblast
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Донеччина (Donechchyna)
Donetsk in Ukraine.svg
Coordinates: 48°08′N 37°44′E / 48.14°N 37.74°E / 48.14; 37.74Coordinates: 48°08′N 37°44′E / 48.14°N 37.74°E / 48.14; 37.74
Country  Ukraine
Established June 3, 1938
Administrative center Donetsk (de jure)
Kramatorsk (de facto)
Government
 • Governor Pavlo Zhebrivskyi
 • Oblast council 150 seats
 • Chairperson Andriy Fedoruk (PR)
Area
 • Total 26,517 km2 (10,238 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 11th
Population (September 1, 2013)
 • Total Decrease 4,356,392
 • Rank Ranked 1st
Demographics
 • Official language(s) Ukrainian
Russian (regional)
 • Average salary UAH 1161 (2006)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 83000-87999
Area code +380-62
ISO 3166 code UA-14
Vehicle registration АН
Raions 18
Cities (total) 52
• Regional cities 28
Urban-type settlements 131
Villages 1124
FIPS 10-4 UP05
Website www.donoda.gov.ua
www.rada.gov.ua

Donetsk Oblast (Ukrainian: Доне́цька о́бласть, Donets'ka oblast'; also referred to as DonechchynaUkrainian: Донеччина Donechchyna; Russian: Доне́цкая о́бласть, Donetskaya oblast [dɐˈnʲɛtskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ]) is an oblast (province) 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 annexation of Crimea by Russia, 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.

Before the establishment of the first Donetsk Oblast, three districts (okruhas) existed on its territory from 1923 to 1930. The Donetsk Governorate was terminated in 1925. As part of Soviet Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast was established on 2 July 1932 out of Kharkiv Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and a number of raions that were under the direct administration of Kharkiv (then-capital of Soviet Ukraine). Artemivsk (today Bakhmut) served as the oblast's administrative center for two weeks until 16 July 1932, when the city of Stalino (today Donetsk) took on the role. Until 1938, Donetsk Oblast included the territories of modern Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast. In June 1938 it was split into Stalino Oblast (modern Donetsk Oblast) and Voroshylovhrad Oblast (modern Luhansk Oblast).


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