Luhansk Oblast

Luhansk Oblast (Ukrainian: Луганська область, translit. Luhans’ka oblast’, Russian: Луганская область, translit. Luganskaya oblast; also referred to as Luhanshchyna – Ukrainian: Луганщина) is the easternmost oblast (province) of Ukraine. Its administrative center is Luhansk. The oblast was established in 1938 and bore the name Voroshilovgrad Oblast (until 1958 and again 1970 to 1990) in honor of Kliment Voroshilov. Population: 2,256,551 (2013 est.).

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

Due to the War in Donbass, the administrative center of the oblast was relocated to Sievierodonetsk.

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 the country.

Its longitude from north to south is 250 km, from east to west – 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). It borders the Belgorod and Voronezh Oblasts of Russia on the north, while the Rostov Oblast is located to the east and the south. Among Ukrainian regions, the oblast borders the Kharkiv and Donetsk Oblasts to its west.

Luhansk

Coordinates: 48°34′N 39°18′E / 48.567°N 39.300°E / 48.567; 39.300

The city of Luhansk (Ukrainian: Луганськ, IPA: [ɫuˈɦɑnʲsʲk]) or Lugansk (Russian: Луганск; IPA: [lʊˈgansk]), formerly known as Voroshilovgrad (1935-1958 and 1970-1990), functions as the administrative center of Luhansk Oblast in easternmost Ukraine. The city itself is also designated as city of oblast significance. Population: 425,848 (2013 est.).

Since 2014, Luhansk is controlled by the forces of the Luhansk People's Republic and is not controlled by the Ukrainian Government. The administration of Luhansk Oblast was moved to Sievierodonetsk.

History

The city traces its history to 1795 when the British industrialist Charles Gascoigne founded a metal factory near the Zaporizhian Cossacks settlement Kamianyi Brid. The settlement around the factory was known as Luganskiy Zavod. In 1882 the factory settlement Luganskiy Zavod was merged with the town of Kamianyi Brid into the city of Luhansk. Located in the Donets Basin, Luhansk developed into an important industrial center of Eastern Europe, particularly as a home to the major locomotive-building company Luhanskteplovoz. The city was occupied by Nazi Germany between July 14, 1942 and February 14, 1943.