Donetsk Oblast

Donetsk Oblast Донецька область Donets'ka oblast’
Oblast
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Донеччина (Donechchyna)
Coordinates:
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	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) — Regional cities	52 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 Donechchyna – Ukrainian: 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 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 (26,517 km²), 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 (spit) 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.

Detailed map of Donetsk Oblast

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Donetsk Oblast

The province is primarily divided into 18 raions (districts) and 28 municipalities of equal status (22 miskradas and 6 mistos - cities of regional significance), including the provincial administrative centre Donetsk. These are listed below with their areas and populations.

Name	Local Name	Area (km2)	Population Census 2001	Population Estimate 1 Jan 2012	Admin.ctr
Artemivsk (city)	Артемівськ (Міськрада)	74	113,785	104,631	Artemivsk
Avdiivka (city)	Авдіївка (місто)	29	37,237	35,257	-
Debaltseve (city)	Дебальцеве (Міськрада)	38	53,412	46,302	Debaltseve
Dobropillia (city)	Добропілля (Міськрада)	119	72,817	63,938	Dobropillia
Dokuchaievsk (city)	Докучаївськ (Міськрада)	47	25,024	24,506	Dokuchaevsk
Donetsk (city)	Донецьк (Міськрада)	571	1,024,678	971,096	Donetsk
Druzhkivka (city)	Дружківка (Міськрада)	23	75,006	70,126	Druzhkivka
Dymytrov (city)	Димитров (Міськрада)	20	56,702	50,995	Dymytrov
Dzerzhynsk (city)	Дзержинськ (Міськрада)	62	86,281	74,435	Dzerzhynsk
Horlivka (city)	Горлівка (Міськрада)	422	312,284	279,500	Horlivka
Khartsyzk (city)	Харцизьк (Міськрада)	207	113,685	105,104	Khartsyzk
Kirovske (city)	Кіровське (місто)	7	31,041	28,470	-
Kostiantynivka (city)	Костянтинівка (місто)	66	94,886	78,114	-
Kramatorsk (city)	Краматорськ (Міськрада)	356	215,729	199,020	Kramatorsk
Krasnoarmiisk (city)	Красноарміськ (Міськрада)	39	82,830	77,891	Krasnoarmiisk
Krasnyi Lyman (city)	Красний Лиман (Міськрада)	192	28,996	23,740	Krasnyi Lyman
Makiivka (city)	Макіївка (Міськрада)	426	431,023	394,604	Makiivka
Mariupol (city)	Маріуполь (Міськрада)	244	510,835	486,320	Mariupol
Novohrodivka (city)	Новогродівка (місто)	6	17,559	15,560	-
Selydove (city)	Селидове (Міськрада)	108	62,819	54,626	Selydove
Shakhtarsk (city)	Шахтарськ (Міськрада)	51	72,711	61,234	Shakhtarsk
Sloviansk (city)	Слов'янськ (Міськрада)	74	142,873	138,450	Sloviansk
Snizhne (city)	Сніжне (Міськрада)	189	83,046	71,277	Snizhne
Torez (city)	Торез (Міськрада)	105	96,026	81,761	Torez
Vuhledar (city)	Вугледар (місто)	5	17,518	15,477	-
Yasynuvata (city)	Яcинувата (місто)	19	36,903	35,843	-
Yenakiieve (city)	Єнакієве (Міськрада)	425	162,778	132,110	Yenakiieve
Zhdanivka (city)	Жданівка (Міськрада)	2	14,375	13,377	Zhdanivka
Amvrosiivsky (raion)	Амвросіївський (район)	1,455	54,939	46,081	Amvrosiivsk
Artemivsky (raion)	Артемівський (район)	1,687	54,065	45,367	Artemivsk
Dobropilsky (raion)	Добропільський (район)	949	20,659	16,980	Dobropillia
Kostyantynivsky (raion)	Костянтинівський (район)	1,172	21,132	19,256	Kostiantynivka
Krasnoarmiisky (raion)	Красноармійський (район)	1,316	37,567	32,439	Krasnoarmiisk
Krasnolymansky (raion)	Краснолиманський (район)	1,018	24,974	22,136	Krasnyi Lyman
Marynsky (raion)	Мар'їнський (район)	1,350	90,045	84,571	Marïnka
Novoazovsky (raion)	Новоазовський (район)	1,000	38,902	36,066	Novoazovsk
Oleksandrivsky (raion)	Олександрівський (район)	1,010	23,036	19,804	Oleksandrivka
Pershotravnevy (raion)	Першотравневий (район)	792	29,312	27,325	Manhush
Shakhtarsky (raion)	Шахтарський (район)	1,194	24,262	19,974	Shakhtarsk
Slovyansky (raion)	Слов'янський (район)	1,274	39,188	34,334	Sloviansk
Starobeshivsky (raion)	Старобешівський (район)	1,255	55,952	51,068	Starobesheve
Telmanivsky (raion)	Тельманівський (район)	1,340	35,365	29,965	Telmanove
Velikonovosilkivsky (raion)	Великоновосілівський (район)	1,901	49,323	41,943	Velyka Novosilka
Volnovasky (raion)	Волноваський (район)	1,848	92,489	84,579	Volnovakha
Volodarsky (raion)	Володарський (район)	1,221	31,168	29,472	Volodarske
Yasynuvatsky (raion)	Ясинуватський (район)	809	30,326	16,980	Yasynuvata
Total Oblast	Донецька (Область)	26,517	4,825,563	4,403,178	Donetsk

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

Young family in Donetsk

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 (56.9%), Russians – 1,844,400 (38.2%), Pontic Greeks – 77,500 (1.6%), Belarusians – 44,500 (0.9%), others (2.3%).

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.

Map of the economic activity in the Donbas, including the Donetsk Oblast.

Year	Fertility	Birth	Year	Fertility	Birth	Year	Fertility	Birth
1990	1,6	58 050	2000	0,9	30 042	2010	1,2	41 258
1991	1,5	54 466	2001	0,9	29 931	2011	1,3	41 720
1992	1,4	50 258	2002	0,9	31 216	2012	1,3	42 839
1993	1,3	46 344	2003	0,9	33 433
1994	1,2	43 195	2004	1,0	35 526
1995	1,1	38 808	2005	1,0	35 883
1996	1,1	36 349	2006	1,1	39 327
1997	1,0	34 347	2007	1,2	40 560
1998	1,0	33 518	2008	1,3	44 394
1999	0,9	30 503	2009	1,3	43 373

Age structure

0–14 years: 12.6% (male 283,584/female 266,977)

15–64 years: 70.4% (male 1,453,273/female 1,619,241)

65 years and over: 17.0% (male 243,048/female 496,434) (2013 official)

Median age

total: 41.9 years

male: 38.0 years

female: 45.8 years (2013 official)

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 (covers 40% of national transportation), 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

National park "Sviati Hory."

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 (reserves – 25 billion tons), 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

External links

• Information Card of the Region – Official site of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
• www.citylife.donetsk.ua – Official Donetsk city guide – English
• donoda.gov.ua – Official site of Donetsk Oblast Administration (English)(Ukrainian)(Russian)
• catalogue.biz.ua – Post codes directory of Donetsk Oblast (English)(Ukrainian)(Russian)
• Wikimedia Commons – Media on Donetsk Oblast