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Luhansk Oblast (Ukrainian: Луга́нська о́бласть, romanized: Luhanska oblast; Russian: Луганская область, romanized: Luganskaya oblast; also referred to as Luhanshchyna, Ukrainian: Луга́нщина) is the easternmost oblast (province) of Ukraine. The oblast's administrative center is Luhansk. The oblast was established in 1938 and bore the name Voroshilovgrad Oblast (Ukrainian: Ворошиловградська область, romanized: Voroshylovhradska oblast, until 1958 and again from 1970 to 1991[8]) in honor of Kliment Voroshilov. Its population is estimated as 2,121,322 (2021 est.)[7]

Luhansk Oblast Луганська область
Oblast
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Eastern gate of Ukraine,[1][2] dawn of Ukraine,[3][4][5] Луганщина (Luhanshchyna), Лугань (Luhan)
Coordinates: 48.92°N 39.02°E / 48.92; 39.02
Country	Ukraine
Established	3 June 1938
Administrative center	Luhansk (de jure) Sievierodonetsk (de facto; until 25 June 2022)
Largest settlement under Ukrainian control	Bilohorivka
Government
• Head of the Military–Civil Administration	Serhiy Haidai[6]
• Oblast council	124 seats
Area
• Total	26,684 km2 (10,303 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[7]
• Total	2,121,322
• Rank	Ranked 7
Demographics
• Official language(s)	Ukrainian
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	91-94
Area code	+380-64
ISO 3166 code	UA-09
Vehicle registration	BB
Raions	18
Cities (total)	37
• Regional cities	14
Urban-type settlements	109
Villages	792
FIPS 10-4	UP14
Website	loga.gov.ua

Important cities within the oblast include Alchevsk, Antratsyt, Brianka, Kirovsk, Krasnyi Luch, Krasnodon, Lysychansk, Luhansk, Pervomaisk, Rovenky, Rubizhne, Sverdlovsk, Sievierodonetsk, and Stakhanov.

As of 5 October 2022^[update], nearly all of the oblast is under the occupation of Russia, which claims the oblast as the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), a self-declared state turned Russian federal subject. The war in Donbas and the subsequent 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine saw heavy fighting in the oblast, with Sievierodonetsk captured in June by Russian and LPR forces[9] after an assault lasting several weeks,[10][11] and the oblast's last major settlement under Ukrainian control, Lysychansk, captured by Russian and Russia-backed forces on 2 July.[12] The next day, Russia's Minister of Defence announced that the entire territory of the oblast had been "liberated",[13] but three weeks later the governor of the oblast reported heavy fighting was still ongoing.[14] On 4 September, Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive in eastern Ukraine and recaptured small parts of Donetsk Oblast and, on 1 October, Lyman. Ukrainian forces also pushed through the stalemate at the Luhansk Oblast border and most notably recaptured Bilohirivka while engaging LPR Forces in Lysychansk.

On 30 September 2022 Russia annexed the Luhansk (LPR), Donetsk (Donetsk People's Republic), Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblasts. However, the referendums and subsequent annexations are internationally unrecognized.

Geography

Luhansk Oblast is located in eastern Ukraine. The area of the oblast (26,700 km²), comprises about 4.42% of the total area of Ukraine.

Its length from north to south is 250 km. Its width from east to west is 190 km. The oblast has the longest segment of the Ukrainian international border with Russia among other regions (see State Border of Ukraine) consisting of 746 km (464 mi).

The abutting Russian oblasts are Belgorod Oblast to the north, Voronezh Oblast to the northeast, Rostov Oblast to the east. Abutting Ukrainian oblasts are Kharkiv Oblast to the west, and Donetsk Oblast to the south.

The region is located in the valley of the Siversky Donets river, 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 (367 m (1,204 ft)) which is the highest point of Donetsk Ridge.

The left bank of the Siversky Donets river is part of the Starobilsk Plain. To the north this transforms into the Central Russian Upland.

Adjacent subdivisions

north

Belgorod Oblast, Russia

northeast

Voronezh Oblast, Russia

east

Rostov Oblast, Russia

south

Donetsk Oblast

west

Kharkiv Oblast

History

Soviet Ukraine (1938–1991)

The oblast originated in 1938 as Voroshylovhrad (Russian: Voroshilovgrad) Oblast after the Donetsk Oblast was split between Voroshylovhrad and Stalino (today Donetsk Oblast) oblasts. After the invasion by Nazi Germany in 1941, the region came under a German military administration, due to its proximity to frontlines. It was occupied at the end of 1942 as part of Case Blue German offensive directed towards Stalingrad.

Soon after the battle of Stalingrad, the Luhansk region (at that time Voroshilovgrad) again became the center of military operations during the Soviet counter-offensive operation Little Saturn in the spring of 1943. In the summer of 1943, the region was liberated from the Nazi Germany Armed Forces. During the Soviet era, the Oblast bore its current name between 1958 and 1970.

During the fateful March Referendum of 1991, 70.16% of all Ukrainians voted to remain a part of the Soviet Union as a sovereign republic, while only 27.99% voted 'no'.[15] In the December 1991 referendum (after the August coup ended all hope of a restored Union), 83.86% of votes in the oblast were in favor of the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine.

Independent Ukraine (1991–2014)

Pro-Russian insurgency (2014–2022)

This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: The situation on the ground has changed dramatically, with the entire oblast falling to Russian and LPR forces as of July 3, 2022. (July 2022)

On 8 April 2014, following the annexation of Crimea by Russia, pro-Russian separatists occupying the Luhansk Oblast administrative building planned to declare the independence of the region as the Luhansk Parliamentary Republic,^{[clarification needed]} after other pro-Russian separatists declared Donetsk People's Republic in the Donetsk Oblast (7 April 2014). When the Luhansk Parliamentary Republic ceased to exist, the separatists declared the Luhansk People's Republic on 27 April 2014. They held a disputed referendum on separating from Ukraine on 11 May 2014. The legitimacy of the referendums was not recognized by any government.[16] Ukraine does not recognize the referendum, while the EU and US said the polls were illegal.[17] Subsequently, the war in Donbas began.

As a result of the war in Donbas, Luhansk insurgents control the southern third of the oblast, which includes the city of Luhansk, the region's most populous city and the capital of the oblast. Due to this, most oblast government functions have moved to Sievierodonetsk, which forces of the Government of Ukraine recaptured in July 2014. Many universities located in the occupied areas have moved to government-controlled cities such as Sievierodonetsk, Starobilsk or Rubizhne.[18][19] A survey conducted in December 2014 by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 5.7% of the oblast's population supported their region joining Russia, 84.1% did not support the idea, and the rest were undecided or did not respond. Insurgent-controlled areas were not polled.[20]

Russian occupation (2022–present)

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2022)

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian ground forces entered the occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast by crossing the Russian border on February 22, 2022. They invaded government-controlled territory across the line of contact and the Russian border on February 24. As of 26 May 2022 had occupied all but 5% of the region.[21]

During the Battle of Donbas, Russian troops attacked and eventually captured the cities of Sieverodonetsk and Lysychansk during May and June 2022 in two of the most significant and most intense battles of the Eastern Ukraine offensive. By 3 July 2022, Russian and allied troops controlled all cities in the oblast.

On 4–5 July 2022, during the international Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2022) in Lugano, Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic pledged to support the postwar rebuilding of the Luhansk region.[22]

On 11 September 2022, there were unconfirmed reports that Bilohorivka near Lysychansk, was recaptured. On 19 September 2022, Ukrainian forces confirmed this.

A referendum was held in Luhansk on joining the Russian Federation, although Ukraine along with the United Nations and most observers declared the referendum to be illegitimate.[23] Following the supposed victory in the voting, the region and the Luhansk People's Republic were absorbed into Russia.[24] The United Nations General Assembly subsequently passed a resolution calling on countries not to recognise what it described as an "attempted illegal annexation" and demanded that Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw".[25]

Administrative subdivisions

English Name	Local Name	Type	Area (km2)	Population Census 2001	Population Estimate 1 Jan 2012	Admin.ctr
Alchevsk	Алчевськ	city of regional significance	49	119,193	112,071	Alchevsk
Antratsyt	Антрацит	city of regional significance	61	90,835	78,482	Antratsit
Antratsitivsky	Антрацитівський (район)	raion	1,662	36,971	31,454	Antratsit
Bilokurakynsky	Білокуракинський (район)	raion	1,436	23,807	19,858	Bilokurakyne
Bilovodsky	Біловодський (район)	raion	1,597	27,559	24,459	Bilovodsk
Brianka	Брянка	city of regional significance	64	61,357	54,085	Brianca
Kirovsk	Кіровськ	city of regional significance	35	45,012	36,708	Kirovsk
Krasnodon	Краснодон	city of regional significance	77	118,168	104,640	Krasnodon
Krasnodonsky	Краснодонський (район)	raion	1,386	32,846	29,983	Krasnodon
Krasnyi Luch	Красний Луч	city of regional significance	154	145,129	125,166	Krasnyi Luch
Kreminsky	Кремінський (район)	raion	1,627	51,927	42,357	Kreminna
Luhansk	Луганськ	city of regional significance	286	503,248	466,627	Luhansk
Lutuhynsky	Лутугинський (район)	raion	1,057	73,914	67,977	Lutuhyne
Lysychansk	Лисичанськ	city of regional significance	96	133,258	120,785	Lysychansk
Markivsky	Марківський (район)	raion	1,166	19,002	15,991	Markivka
Milovsky	Міловський (район)	raion	971	17,415	15,696	Milove
Novoaidarsky	Новоайдарський (район)	raion	1,536	28,451	25,618	Novoaidar
Novopskovsky	Новопсковський (район)	raion	1,623	38,322	35,271	Novopskov
Perevalsky	Перевальський (район)	raion	807	87,383	72,387	Perevalsk
Pervomaisk	Первомайськ (Міськрада)	city of regional significance	89	80,622	70,581	Pervomaisk
Popasniansky	Попаснянський (район)	raion	1,325	50,559	41,232	Popasna
Rovenky	Ровеньки	city of regional significance	217	91,712	84,366	Rovenky
Rubizhne	Рубіжне	city of regional significance	34	65,322	60,750	Rubizhne
Sievierodonetsk	Северодонецьк	city of regional significance	58	129,752	120,264	Sieverodonetsk
Slovianoserbsky (raion)	Слов'яносербський (район)	raion	1,113	62,125	55,462	Slovianoserbsk
Stakhanov	Стаханов	city of regional significance	92	108,266	92,818	Stakhanov
Stanychno-Luhansy	Станично-Луганський (район)	raion	1,896	52,762	49,732	Stanychno-Luhanske
Starobilsky	Старобільський (район)	raion	1,582	57,755	47,765	Starobilsk
Svativsky	Сватівський (район)	raion	1,739	43,069	37,652	Svatove
Sverdlovsk	Свердловськ	city of regional significance	84	110,159	99,024	Sverdlovsk
Sverdlovsky	Свердловський (район)	raion	1,132	14,574	12,210	Sverdlovsk
Troitsky	Троїцький (район)	raion	1,633	25,704	21,205	Troitske
Total Oblast	Луганська (Область)	oblast	26,683	2,546,178	2,272,676	Luhansk

Like the rest of the provinces in Ukraine, Luhansk Oblast has a double jurisdiction. The oblast is predominantly administrated by the Luhansk Oblast State Administration, headed by the governor of the oblast, who is appointed by the President of Ukraine. The province 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 (districts), and 37 cities, including 14 cities of regional significance. The administrative center is Luhansk. These raions are listed below with their areas and populations.[26]

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. The city of Luhansk is subdivided into its own four city-districts (boroughs).

All subdivisions are governed by their respective councils (radas).

Cities

Demographics

The population is largely Russian-speaking, although ethnic Ukrainians constitute a majority (58.0%). Among the minorities are native Russians (39.1%), Belarusians (0.8%), and others (1.4%). 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.

In the 2001 Ukrainian Census, more than 68.8% of the population considered themselves Russian speakers, while 30.0% considered themselves Ukrainian speakers. 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 (as of 2004) 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% (male 143,272/female 134,803)

15-64 years: 71.4% (male 768,544/female 838,639)

65 years and over: 16.3% (male 117,782/female 248,914) (2013 official)

Median age

total: 42.1 years

male: 38.2 years

female: 45.9 years (2013 official)

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

• Sievierodonetsk Association Azot
• Association Skloplastyk
• Lysynchansk Oil Refinery

Agriculture

The oblast has post industrial sites which run off building material into surrounding land. Yakymchuk 2018 finds feral stands of Triticum aestivum have colonised several of these sites.[27]

• Derkul Horse Factory

Power generation

• Sievierodonetsk Power Station
• Luhansk power station
• Shteriv power station (liquidated)

Transport

Through the region pass two major European routes E50 and E40. There are 24 Russo-Ukrainian international border checkpoints of various entry.

• E50 within the Luhansk Oblast uses highway M03 that starts from Debaltseve (Donetsk Oblast), passes through the city of Krasnyi Luch, and enters the Russian Federation at the border checkpoint "Dovzhansky" (settlement Dovzhanske, town of Biryukove).
• E40 within the Luhansk Oblast uses highway M04 that starts from Debaltseve (Donetsk Oblast), passes through the city of Luhansk, and enters the Russian Federation at the border checkpoint "Izvaryne" (town of 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 (Luhansk)
• Fighters for the Revolution monument
• Derkul horse factory
• Royal Rocks (Luhansk State Preserve)
• Chasm Steppe (Sverdlovsk Raion)
• Ram Foreheads (limestone rocks)
• Mścichowski Palace (Палац Мсциховського)

Notable People

• Dov Markus (born 1946), Israeli-American soccer player, born in Donbas.
• Serhiy Zhadan (born 1974), writer.

See also

• 2014 Donbas status referendums

References

External links

• Official site of Luhansk Oblast Administration (in Ukrainian)
• Information Card of the Region – official site of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

На других языках

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[de] Oblast Luhansk

Die Oblast Luhansk (ukrainisch Луганська область .mw-parser-output .Latn{font-family:"Akzidenz Grotesk","Arial","Avant Garde Gothic","Calibri","Futura","Geneva","Gill Sans","Helvetica","Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Grande","Stone Sans","Tahoma","Trebuchet","Univers","Verdana"}Luhanska oblast; russisch Луганская область Luganskaja oblast) ist die östlichste der 25 Verwaltungseinheiten (Oblaste) der Ukraine. Sie hat 2.121.322 Einwohner (Anfang 2021; de facto).[1]

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- [en] Luhansk Oblast

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[es] Óblast de Lugansk

Lugansk o Luhansk es un óblast (provincia) de Ucrania situado en el sudeste del país. Su capital es Lugansk. Tiene una superficie de 27 000 km². Su población registrada en el censo del 1 de marzo de 2012 era de &&&&&&&&02269184.&&&&&02 269 184 habitantes. Desde el 3 de julio del 2022, en el marco de la invasión rusa de Ucrania, el territorio se encuentra totalmente ocupado por Rusia y gestionado por la autoproclamada República Popular de Lugansk aunque el 8 de septiembre perdieron algo de terreno.

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[ru] Луганская область

Луга́нская о́бласть (укр. Луга́нська о́бласть), или Луганщина[6] (укр. Луганщина), — административно-территориальная единица Украины, расположенная на крайнем востоке страны, преимущественно в бассейне среднего течения Северского Донца.

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