Donetsk Oblast - Overview
Donetsk Oblast or Donetska Oblast is an administrative region of Ukraine located in the southeastern part of the country. Donetsk is the capital city of the region.
As of June 2025, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, most of Donetsk Oblast (73.11%) is controlled by Russia.
The population of Donetsk Oblast (2021) is about 4,059,000 (9.86% of the total population of Ukraine, the largest region in the country by population).
The land area of Donetsk Oblast - 26,517 sq. km. (4.41% of the total area of Ukraine).
The latest history of Donetsk Oblast
In April 2014, as a result of the political crisis in Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic was proclaimed in Donetsk Oblast.
The territory of Donetsk Oblast became a war zone between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the people protecting the self-proclaimed republic, who were supported by Russia. As a result, the territory of the Donetsk region was divided between the Donetsk People’s Republic (including the city of Donetsk) and Ukraine. The Ukrainian regional state administration of Donetsk Oblast was moved to Kramatorsk.
In 2022-2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast became the site of the most fierce fighting. Of particular note is the siege and capture of Mariupol by Russia and the Battle for Bakhmut.
Nature of Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk region nature
Author: Valeriy Dudush
Donetsk region nature view
Author: Vadim Tolbatov
Donetsk Oblast landscape
Author: Shuvalov Alexey
Donetsk Oblast - Features
Donetsk Oblast borders on Rostov Oblast of Russia. In the south, it is washed by the Azov Sea.
The region stretches for 255 km from north to south, 180 km from west to east. The distance from Donetsk to Kyiv is 871 km by railway, and 693 km by roads.
This region is rich in deposits of various mineral resources. The largest deposits of iron ore are located close to Mariupol.
Donetsk Oblast has large deposits of coal, its proven reserves are about 10 billion tons, including 5.7 billion tons of coke coal.
The region includes 18 districts, 52 towns, 131 urban villages and 1,118 villages. The main cities are Donetsk, Mariupol, Makeevka, Gorlovka, Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, Enakievo.
Donetsk Oblast - Economy
Donetsk Oblast is the largest industrial region in the country (about 20% of industrial production of Ukraine).
Industry: extremely powerful metallurgical production, heavy machine-building and coal mining, chemicals, building materials, electricity, transport.
Agriculture: grains, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables, sunflowers; cattle and poultry farming.
There are several heavy-engineering works in the Donetsk region producing mainly mining equipment.
