Zaporizhzhia (region)

Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Ukrainian: Запорізька область, romanized: Zaporiz'ka oblast'), also referred to as Zaporizhzhia Region, is an oblast (province) of southeastern Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Geography:

Zaporizhzhia Oblast is located in the southeastern part of Ukraine, bordering the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Donetsk, and Mykolaiv Oblasts. It has access to the Sea of Azov via the Berdyansk Gulf. The Dnieper River flows through the region, bisecting the city of Zaporizhzhia. The territory is primarily a flat steppe landscape.

History:

The region has a rich and complex history, inhabited by various nomadic groups throughout the centuries, including the Scythians, Sarmatians, and Pechenegs. In the medieval period, it was a borderland zone between various powers, including the Crimean Khanate and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Zaporozhian Cossacks established their stronghold on the Dnieper River islands, centered around Khortytsia Island. The area became part of the Russian Empire in the late 18th century. During the Soviet era, it was heavily industrialized. Since 2014, and especially since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, parts of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast have been occupied by Russian forces.

Administrative Divisions:

Before the 2020 administrative reforms, Zaporizhzhia Oblast was divided into 20 raions (districts) and 5 cities of oblast significance (Zaporizhzhia, Berdyansk, Enerhodar, Melitopol, and Tokmak). Following the reforms, the oblast is now divided into five raions: Berdyansk Raion, Melitopol Raion, Polohy Raion, Vasylivka Raion, and Zaporizhzhia Raion.

Economy:

The region is a major industrial center of Ukraine. Key industries include metallurgy, machine-building, energy production (including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe), and agriculture. Agriculture focuses on grain, sunflower, and vegetable production.

Demographics:

The population of Zaporizhzhia Oblast is predominantly Ukrainian, with a significant Russian minority. Other minority groups include Bulgarians, Belarusians, and others. The main languages spoken are Ukrainian and Russian.

Culture:

The region has a vibrant cultural heritage, influenced by its historical position as a crossroads of various cultures. The Cossack heritage is particularly prominent, and efforts are made to preserve and promote Cossack traditions.

Important Note: Due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the current situation in Zaporizhzhia Oblast is dynamic and unstable. Information regarding administrative control, population, and economic activity may be subject to change.