Luhans’k region (oblast’)

Regional center – Luhans’k

History

The territory of oblast’ was settled as far back as 100 thousand years ago. Enormous, practically waste territory was named the “The wild field”, it separated the Russian state from the Crimean khanate. Since XVI patrol services, armed borders had been established in the southern steppes. A number of the Russian military appeared. After Polish gentry forces oppressed revolts in 20-30s of the XVII century, a new historical oblast was established – Slobidska Ukraine. At the end of the XVII century significant for that period of time coal production had been initiated in the region of Lysychanska.

With the purpose to unite coal regions of the basin the Donetska province was established on February 1919 with the center in the city of Luhans’k which was divided into Stalinska and Voroshylovgradska on June 3, 1938. In 1958 the oblast’ was renamed into Luhans’ka which existed until 1970.

After Ukraine proclaimed independence the Luhans’ka oblast’ formed a part of its lands and today is one of the leading industrial centers.

Political division

Politically the oblast’ is divided into 18 districts, 37 towns, 109 urban villages. In general there are 980 settlements. The distance between Luhans’k and Kyiv is – 800 km, from the port (the city of Mariupol’ at the Azov sea) – 300 km.

Authority

Leadership of Luhans’k regional state administration consists of the Head of regional state administration; first deputy of the Head of industry, transport, communication; deputy of the Head for economics, deputy of the Head of AIC; deputy of the Head of building, architecture, communal services, deputy of the Head for organizational and personal work – manager of the staff.

The structure of Luhans’k regional state administration comprises the: Main administration for economics; Main administration of education and science; Main administration of agriculture and food; Main administration of labor and social protection of the population; Main administration of finance; Main administration of emergencies and affairs of population protection from consequences of Chornobyl catastrophe; Administration of foreign affairs and economic activity; Administration of housing and communal services; Administration of domestic policy; Administration of health protection; Administration of building; Administration of city building and architecture; Administration of capital construction; Administration of transport and communication; Administration of culture and art; Administration of press and information; Administration of culture and sport; Administration of family and youth; Department of nationalities and migration; Department of religion; Service of minors; Inspection of quality and resources formation of agriculture production; State archive of the region; Inspection of state technical examination

Borders

Extension of the territory from the south to the north is more than 250 km and from the west to the east is 190 km. On the north, east and south the borders of the oblast’ coincide with frontiers of Ukraine. Here it borders upon Bilgorodska, Voronezka and Rostovska regions of Russia. On the south western border of oblast’ its lands are adjacent to the Donets’k region and on the north western – to the Kharkiv oblast’ of Ukraine.

Population

Population – 2,9 million people (5,7% residents of Ukraine). According to the number of population Luhans’k oblast’ takes the fourth place in Ukraine. It is one of the most densely populated regions of Ukraine. Average density of the population is 105 people on 1 sq. km. In the towns and urban villages live 87% of the population, in villages – 13%. According to the national composition there are 54,8% of the Ukrainians, 41,7% of the Russians.

Economic potential

Surface of the oblast’ is a wavy plain raising from the valley of Siversky Donets’ on the north and south where Donetsky mountain-ridge is situated. The oblast’ is rich in high-quality coal. Coal reserves count dozens of billion tons. Two thirds constitute anthracites and other energy coals, one third – coke coal. In many regions building materials are widely spread: lime, sandstone, chalk, marl, various clay and are used in building. There is a great number of factory waste accumulated in mine waste banks and dumps that can be used in building. There are also natural gas deposits. In Luhans’k and Starobel’sk there are medicinal mineral water sources. Climate is temperately continental. Average temperature of the hottest month (July) is +21 C, and the coldest month (January) –30 С. Winter is comparatively cold, with biting eastern and southeastern winds, frosts. Summer is hot, the second decade is notably arid. Autumn is sunny, warm and arid. Soil is fertile, predominantly black earth. Proper agrotechnics use permits to gather big crops, to cultivate agricultural crops. Forests are few – occupy about 7% of the territory.

Regional center is Luhans’k – the biggest industrial center on the east of the state and the most important transport junction where railway, motor road and air ways pass from the west and the east of Ukraine to the north, central and south regions of Russia. Production of enterprises can be delivered in a short term in Kyiv, Moscow, Rostov-na-Donu, Belgorod, Voronezh, to the ports of the Azov and the Black sea by all mentioned above kinds of transport. Local airport on implementation of small investments can be transformed in a short period of time into international airport. The city of Luhans’k has close connections, namely, economic with foreign cities - twin cities: Lublin (Poland), Cardiff (Great Britain), Pernyk (Bulgaria) etc. To the largest cities of the oblast’ refer Sevyerodonets’k, Krasny Luch, Stakhanov, Alchevs’k, Krasnodon, Rubizhne.

Culture and traditions

Luhans’k is an administrative and cultural center of Luhans’k oblast’ There are 23 culture houses and clubs as well as 2 palaces of culture, children’s schools of music and art – 9 (in 1999 a school of art was opened for 300 children in the Artemivs’k region; in general there are 5 such schools, plus 3 musical and one of art). Parks – 2.

The fisrt professional theater in Donbass was established in Luhans’k in 1922. In 1939 initiated creative autobiography of regional Russian Theater of Drama, and in 1944 Ukrainian Theater of Music and Drama.

In the city function 3 professional theaters: Luhans’k regional Ukrainian Theater of Music and Drama, Luhans’k Regional Russian Theater of Drama and Luhans’k State Regional Theater of Puppets. There is also Youth Theater of Emotion in the city (YETL).

Luhans’k Regional Philharmonic Society also functions in the city. Today the Philharmonic Society has philharmonic orchestra, chamber instrumental ensemble “Rus’”, center organizing public lectures of music.

In 1944 a municipal orchestra of sacred and pop music was established

Nature and ecology

Luhanshchyna has 87 territories and objects of nature and reserve fund, memorials of nature – complex Ajdar terrace and Kongress ravine, parks – memorials of landscape art – Hostra Mogyla and Druzhba, 13 reserves, 48 memorials of nature, 6 parks – memorials of landscape art and 14 tracts.

The main natural recreation resources are mineral waters of different types. Function 14 health centers, 10 rest homes, a number of sanatoriums and rest camps for children.

The most interesting are: nature memorial Baranyachi Loby in Novoajdari – unique chalk hills of 50 meters height, Korolivs’ki Skeli (Royal Hills) in the village of Provallya – mining formations 100 meters height, Museum “Moloda Hvardiya” in Krasnodon.

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