Donets’ka oblast’
was established on July 17, 1932.
It is a large industrial region, situated in steppe zone of the southeast
part of Ukraine.
On the east the oblast’ borders upon the Russian
Federation, on the south has an outlet
to the Mediterranean basin. Extension of the region from the north to the
south –240 km, from the east to the west – 170 km. Square – 26,5 thousand
sq. km, or 4,4% of the Ukrainian territory.
Archeological
investigations prove that the region refers to the regions of Ukraine
inhabited in the paleolith epoch. According to the Provision of the
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from 26.07.2001 ¹878 “On list of
Ukrainian historical places ratification”, the following cities of
Donets’k oblast’ have been established: Artemivs’k – 1571, Horlivka –
1779, Donets’k – 1869, Kramators’k – 1860, Makijivka – the end of XVII
century, Mariupol – 1780, Slov’yanohirs’k – 1538-1539, Slov’yans’k –
1645.
Fuel and energy
complex, mineral and feed resources created the conditions for industry
complex development with high concentration of heavy industry, scientific
and social infrastructure.
137 banks and
banking institutions, 17 insurance companies, and 24 exchanges maintain
the economy of the oblast’.
Political
division
The territory of the
region is 26,5 thousand sq. km – 4,4% of all territory
of Ukraine. Its longitude from
the north to the south is 270 km, from the west to the east – 190 km.
Extreme points of border are: on the south – Bilosarajs’ka kosa (spit),
on the west – Shevchenko of Velykonovosilkivsky region, on the east
Verkhnij Kut of Shakhtarsky region, on the north – Lozove of
Krasnolymansky region.
Donets’k region
comprises the following regions: Amrosijivsky, Artemivsky,
Velykonovoselkivsky, Volnovakhsky, Volodarsky, Dobropilsky,
Konstyantynivsky, Krasnoarmijs’k, Krasnolymansky, Mar’jinsky,
Novoazovsky, Oleksandrivsky, Pershotravnevy, Slov’yansky, Starobeshevsky,
Telmanivsky, Shakhtarsky, Yasunuvatsky.
Authority
Leadership of Donets’k oblast’ state administration represent the
Head of regional state administration, the first deputy of the Head of
economics, budget and finance; deputies of the Head of regional state
administration of information, religion, nationalities, culture, sport;
the deputy of the Head of humanitarian and social spheres; the deputy of
the Head of industry, energy, transport and communication; the deputy of
the Head of building, housing, communal and road services; the deputy of
the Head on territory and foreign relations development; the deputy of
the Head of agriculture and food, trade, consumer services; the deputy of
the Head on political and legal issues and the deputy on activity
organization of the staff of regional state administration on
organizational, legal, personnel and revision activities.
Heads of local state administrations according to the Law of
Ukraine on local state administrations form the composition of local
state administrations.
Within budget assignments, prescribed for corresponding local
state administrations support, their heads define the structure of local
state administrations.
Enumeration of offices, departments and other structural
subdivisions of local state administrations as well as typical provisions
are ratified by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Borders
Donets’k oblast’
is situated in steppe zone in the southeast part of Ukraine.
On the southwest and the west it borders upon Dnipropetrovs’k and
Zaporizhya, on the northwest – Kharkiv, on the northeast – Luhans’k
regions of Ukraine,
on the east upon the Rostovs’k oblast’ of the Russian
Federation, on the south washed by the
Azov sea.
Population
Donets’k
oblast’ is the largest in Ukraine
according on a population. On 01.01.2001 its population is 4,953 million
people (10% of the Ukrainian population). Average density of population
is 186,9 people on 1 sq. km. 4,5 ml people live in cities (90%), 453
thousand people (9,1%) – in villages About 90% nationalities are
represented in this region. The main part constitute the Ukrainians (50%)
and Russians (42%) as well as the Greeks, Byelorussians, Jews, German
people
Economy
Industry
Donechchyna
covers more than a half of coal production, finished steel, coke, cast
iron and steel production and practically all yield of rolling-mill
machinery in Ukraine.
Ferrous metallurgy, fuel industry and power industry are much in demand
in the structure of industry production. In the structure of commodity
production of national consumption share of food stuffs constitutes 64%.
882 industry enterprises are on independent balance, besides, there 2095
small industry enterprises in the region. Oblast’ has a developed
transport infrastructure: Donets’k railroad (covers 40% of national
transportation), Mariupol port, international airport (Donets’k)
passenger transport aerodrome (in Mariupol and Kramators’k), dense motor
road system. In 1998 the Law of Ukraine “On special economic zones and
special investment regime in Donets’k oblast’” was adopted that created a
favorable investment atmosphere in the region. Status of priority
territory development gained 22 cities and 5 regions, two special
economic zones have been created “Donets’k” and “Azov” with privileged
tax regime.
Agriculture
In 1999 gross
grain yield in the region was about 999,1 thousand tons, sugar beets –
27,1 thousand tons, sunflower seeds –309,4 thousand tons, potatoes –
380,2 thousand tons. 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 have been 2108 farms in the region.
Culture and
traditions
Donechchyna is
famous for its historical and architectural park complex in
Slov’yanohirsk, cultural and architectural buildings in Artemivsk, museum
of the prominent painter A.I.Kujindgy in Mariupol, Stone graves – steppe
park by the town of Volodarsk.
Svyatohirsk is
a landscape complex with the Svyatohirsk cave Cloister built in XVII-XIX
centuries. The Cloister is located on the coasts of Siversky Donets’
river in the place called Saint Mountains. The Cloisters caves are
considered to be unique. Svyatohirsk is one of the best climate resorts
of Ukraine.
Stone caves -
is a museum in the open air, at a height above sea of 150-200 meters. The
Alps in miniature are one and a half billion
years, alpine meadows with rare plants.
Khomutovsky
steppe is a unique memorial of primeval nature and Scythian lands.
Nature and
ecology
Climate is deeply
continental, characterized by hot summer and relatively cold winter with
changeable snow surface. Southeast and east strong winds, high
temperature and heavy showers in summer are typical for this region.
Rainfall – 524 mm.
Regional bowels
contain practically all elements of the periodic table. Basic minerals
are: coal (reserves - 25 billion tons), rock salt, lime carbonate, potassium,
mercury, asbestos, graphite. The oblast’ is rich in fertile black earth.
There are
important recreation resources: mild climate, the Azov sea coast,
curative mud, sources of mineral, radon and table water. There are 26
health centers and pensions, 52 rest homes and boarding houses,numerous recreation departments, rest camps for
children.
There are
curative bowels. Among them Slov’yansk salt lakes and mineral water
sources. Park zones - the Khomutivsky steppe and the Azov seacoast are of
great national value. Salt mine in the town of Soledari
has unique natural curative characteristics.
Donets’k oblast’
has 70 objects of nature and park fund including branches of the
Ukrainian steppe park, 6 state reserves, 10 memorials of nature, landscapes,
6 park tracts.
