Zakarpattya region (oblast’)

Regional center – Uzhgorod

History

The history of Zakarpattya is a constituent part of the Ukrainian history but it is characterized by peculiarity series, which affected economic, political and ethnic development of the region.

Zakarpattya is situated on the south mountainsides of the Ukrainian Carpathians and was named in different times “Uhorska Rus’”, “Karpatska Rus’”, “Karpatska Ukraine”, “Zakarpatska Ukraine” and since 1946 – Zakarpatska oblast’ forming a part of the USSR. It was an original binding bridge between the east and the west.

The past of Zakarpattya is inseparably linked with the east Slavs. Archeological sources testify that its population had a high material and spiritual culture for a long time, genetically related to the culture of Prydniprov’ya, Podnistrov’ya, Lisostep, Volyn and Prykarpattya tribes. In the I century A.D. there was intensive formation process of the east Slavs.

It was an important event in the history of Zakarpattya when it was adjoined in the IX-XI centuries to the active influential sphere of powerful east Slavic state – Kyiv Rus’, which at that time had a high material and spiritual culture.

From the end of the X century it was alienated from the principle root – east Slavs, up to the middle of the XX century Zakarpattya was a part of the Hungarian Kingdom, Austrian Habsburg Monarchy, Dual Monarchy, Czechoslovakian Republic, Hortystsk Hungary but “rusyny” had never lost their Slavonic essence, economic and cultural relations with nations on that side of the Carpathians.

After Austria-Hungarian devastation, in the years of the War World I (1914-1918) Zakarpattya obtained autonomous status on the basis of decisions of the Paris conference of peace, Sengermen treaty of peace in 1919 and Trianon treaty in 1920 as a part of Czechoslovakian republic.

In spring of 1939 when Hitler divided Czechoslovakia in the result of two arbitrations, all south regions of Zakarpattya got under dependence of Hungary.

At the beginning of 1939 on the territory of the region a new state was established – Karpatska Ukraine, Seym elected its first president Avgustyn Voloshyn. On March 15, 1939 troops of Hortystska Hungary occupied the territory and suspended the existence of this state.

After the Red Army liberated the region in October 1944 Zakarpattya was proclaimed as an independent state – Zakarpatska Ukraine with its government – the National Council. This state formation existed only to July 1945 in the result of the union with the USSR on the ground of people’s will in accordance with the “Manifesto on the union with Soviet Ukraine” adopted by the First Congress of national committees of Zakarpatska Ukraine.

Zakarpattya is an original “Ukrainian window in Europe”. This region is situated on the important geographic crossroad of borders. But allied relations intertwined with borderers of neighboring states. It is not accidentally that border cooperation is a priority direction.

No other regions of Ukraine has such national variety as Zakarpattya has. For a long time here live at peace and in chime the Ukrainians (78,4%), Hungarians (12,5%), Russians (4,0%), Romanians (2,4%), Gipsy (1,0), Slovaks (0,6%), German (0,3%), Jews (0,2%) – in general there are 70 representatives of different nations and religions.

Nowadays Zakarpattya is not only a region with its economic, unique nature resource potential, it is a region that gave rise to a number of Ukrainian scientists, talented painters, writers, artists, specialists in various spheres of agriculture. But the greatest our wealth – is a built up for centuries high culture of international relations, patience, diligence, tenacity, countenance.

Political division

Zakarpattya is divided into 13 administrative-territorial units: 4 regions in the towns (Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, Khust, Berehovo) and 13 districts. There are 7 towns, 20 urban villages and 579 villages.

Authority

Leadership of Zakarpattya regional state administration comprises the Head, first deputies of the Head and five deputies of the Head.

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

Zakarpattya region is situated in the western part of Ukraine. Its area is 12,8 thousand sq. km. The region borders upon Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk oblast’. On the north, west and south of the region runs the frontier with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania. Administrative center is Uzhgorod.

Population

Total number of the population is 1287 thousand people, density of the population – 101 people on 1 sq. km. There are 10 cities, 20 urban villages, 579 villages in the region. The largest cities are Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, Svalyava, Vynohradiv, Berehove.

Economic potential

Industry

Forestland of the region stipulates for the development of forest woodworking (furniture, saw-timber production) and resin (wood charge stock) industries. Additionally, develop such spheres as: food industry (wine- and cognac-making, potted goods), light industry (shoes, headdresses, ready-made garments, knitwork), mechanical engineering (engineering tools, electric motors, pipe-line armature etc.). Segment of foodstuffs in the structure of ware production of national consumption is 45%. In general there are 319 industry enterprises in the regional that have their independent balance besides there are 733 small industry enterprises.

Agriculture

Basic crops in the agroindustrial complex are cereals (winter wheat and maize), potatoes and vegetables, developed gardening and viticulture. In 1999 the gross grain yield was about 175,8 thousand tons, sunflower seeds – 1,3 thousand tons, potatoes – 378,2 thousand tons. It also produced 76,1 thousand tons of meat, 363,4 thousand tons of milk and 241,9 million eggs. At the beginning of 1999 there were 1400 farms in the region.

Culture and traditions

Cultural originality of Zakarpattya is characterized by reserved traditions of rusyniv-Ukrainians, who are ethnically divided into hutsuly, lemky, bojky. Every ethnic group has its peculiar melody kolomyjky, embroidery technique, ceremonies. They live in harmony with culture and traditions of the Hungarians, German, Slovaks, Romanians other nations. Important sources about the history of the region one can find in chronicles in Latin, Hungarian, German, Czech, Slovakian, Old Slavonic and other languages. Zakarpattya is a native land of universally known paiter-academician Ihor Hrabar, such famous in Europe painters as Adalbert Erdel’, Yosyp Bokshaj, Fedor Manaj, Andrij Kotsky. Such prominent in the Ukrainian culture composers as Dezyderij Zador, Stepan Marton, Yevgen Stankovych, singer Hizepa Tsipola etc.

Nature and ecology

Landscape of Zakarpattya – mountains and foothills covered with deciduous and coniferous forests, Alpine meadows. Water resources: the largest rivers – Tisa, Borzhava, Tereblya; there are several lakes. Soil – predominantly brown detritus, turfy soils. Climate: moderately  continental, rainfall – 700-1000 mm. Minerals: deposits of polymetal, alunite, pearlite, zeolite, liparite, rock salt of Solotvynsky deposit; kaolin extraction, found 13 carbonate strata deposits (lime, dolomite, marble); about 360 mineral water sources different by chemistry and medicinal characteristics have been found and investigated.

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