Donetsk Oblast

Donetsk Oblast, also called Donechchyna (Ukrainian: Донеччина, IPA: [doˈnɛtʃːɪnɐ]), is an oblast in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine that is currently four-fifths (80%) occupied by Russia. Before the Russo-Ukrainian War, it was Ukraine's most populous province, with around 4.1 million residents. The oblast is Ukraine's most urbanized, and includes the sprawling urban areas of Donetsk–Makiivka, Horlivka–Yenakiieve, and the port city of Mariupol. Its administrative center is Donetsk city, though due to the war it was moved to Kramatorsk. The oblast is a coal-mining region and has a long association with the industry. From its creation in 1938 until November 1961, it bore the name Stalino Oblast, in honour of Joseph Stalin. As part of de-Stalinization, it was renamed after the Donets, the main river of eastern Ukraine, and the Donets Ridge. At the last census in 2001, the population of Donetsk Oblast was 57% ethnic Ukrainian and 38% ethnic Russian. Meanwhile, 75% of people in Donetsk Oblast had Russian as their mother tongue and 24% had Ukrainian, although most Ukrainian citizens could speak both. In 2014, parts of the oblast, including Donetsk, were taken over by Russian-backed separatists who declared an independent Donetsk People's Republic. This sparked an eight-year war against government forces. The separatists controlled about one-third of Donetsk Oblast, and Ukraine declared this to be under Russian occupation. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, renewed heavy fighting erupted, and in September 2022 Russia declared the annexation of the whole oblast, though it had only conquered 60% at the time, and the annexation was not recognized internationally.