What are the current regional centers of Ukraine? The list of them has slightly changed in 2014. In March, Crimea withdrew from Ukraine , whose capital is Simferopol (this is a large regional center of Ukraine in the past). In May, a referendum was held in two areas - Lugansk and Donetsk. The majority of the population supported the separation from Ukraine and the formation of independent republics. Not the entire world community recognizes the independence of these regions. At the moment, the region is fighting for autonomy.
Volyn, Dnepropetrovsk, Transcarpathian, Zaporizhzhya, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kiev, Lviv, Kirovograd, Nikolaev, Odessa, Rivne, Sumy, Poltava and other regions remained under the leadership of Kiev. Brief information on each of them (including the population of the regional centers of Ukraine) is given below.
Western Ukraine
This term is used today in several meanings. As a rule, this refers only to the Galician region. There are three of them: Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopol, Lviv. Sometimes eight regions are mentioned - Volyn, Khmelnitsky, Rivne, Chernivtsi and Transcarpathian are added to the listed ones. It is interesting that the majority of Transcarpathian residents do not consider themselves residents of Western Ukraine.
Ivano-Frankivsk
Until 1962 - Stanislav. Administrative regional center. The population is 243,000. Subordinated to 14 districts (789 villages, 15 cities). Occupied area - 13.9 thousand km².
Ternopil
Until 1944 - Tarnopol. Regional center. Until recent events, it occupied 2.28% of the country's total territory (13,800 km²). Built on the Podolsk Upland. The population of the region is about 1,080,000 people. In submission - 18 cities, 17 districts. Ternopil region is considered the most Ukrainian-speaking in the country.
Lviv
The regional center, the extreme west of the country. It is considered a historical cultural region. The region was formed in December 1939. It borders with Poland. Subordinated to 20 districts.
Central Ukraine
Includes Zhytomyr, Vinnitsa, Kiev, Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Cherkasy, Kirovograd regions. This is about one third of the country.
The following are the regional centers of Ukraine (center of the country).
Zhytomyr
Belongs to the north-western territory of Ukraine. Regional center. The ancient city (founded in 884). Initially, it was a settlement of Zhyteans (hence the name: “the world is living”), which were part of the Drevlyans union and, accordingly, the tribal union.
Now the regional center is subordinated to 23 districts, 1,593 settlements. The population is about 1,267,000 people.
Vinnitsa
Another regional center. Translated from Old Slavonic “vno” means “gift”. The lands around it were populated for quite some time. Thanks to archaeological excavations, ancient Russian and Scythian settlements were discovered. Now subordinate to 27 districts. The population of the region is about 1,623,000 people.
Kiev
Regional center, the capital of Ukraine. Located on the banks of the Dnieper. Center of the Kiev metropolitan area. One of the largest cities in the world. Seventh largest population. It was originally the center of Kievan Rus. The population is 1.7 million people, and the area of the region is 28 131 km 2 .
Chernihiv
North of the central part of Ukraine. Archaeological excavations indicate the appearance of the first settlers around the 4th millennium BC. e. In the annals he is mentioned in 907. The area of the region is 31,865 square meters. km, the population is about 1,075,000 people. Subordinate - 22 districts, 312 cities.
Sumy
Regional city in the north-eastern part of the center of Ukraine. The population is about 270 thousand people. Subordinate - 18 districts, 15 cities. The area of the region is 23.8 thousand square meters. km The population is about 1165 thousand people. The city was founded in 1652. The first settlements appeared on this territory in the 6th century BC. e. Slavic tribes lived there (the remains were found in the southwestern region of the city).
Poltava
Center area. Located on the banks of the Vorskla River. First mentioned in the seventh century. However, as archaeological excavations show, settlements existed there much earlier. The city occupies 112.5 square meters. km Residents - about 300 thousand people. The area of the region is 228,750 square meters. km Residents - 1,467,000 people. In submission - 25 districts, 510 cities.
Cherkasy
Regional, administrative, educational, industrial, cultural center. The city played a significant role in the formation of the Cossacks. Located at the Kremenchug reservoir, built on the Dnieper. The city is home to about 290,000 inhabitants. In submission - 20 districts, 610 cities. The area of the region is 20 900 km. sq. The population is about 1,265,000 people.
Kirovograd
Cultural, industrial, regional center. Built on the Dnieper Upland, off the banks of the Ingul River. The area of the city is 10.3 thousand ha. About 270 thousand inhabitants live. It was founded in 1775. In submission - 21 district, 48 cities. The population of the region is about 992,000 people.
Southeast
It was a powerful region uniting several areas. Until 2014, it included the following regional centers of Ukraine: Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, Odessa, Nikolaev, Kherson, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk regions, Sevastopol and Crimea. Today Crimea is the territory of Russia. Some regional centers of Ukraine declared their autonomy. After the unification of Lugansk and Donetsk regions into Novorossia in the south-eastern part of the country, 6 regions began to be listed.
Zaporozhye
Regional, administrative, industrial, cultural center. The population is about 765,000. Machine building metallurgy (non-ferrous, ferrous), construction, chemical industry are developed. Due to the large number of industrial enterprises, air is polluted. Subordinated to 20 districts, 59 cities. Area - 2718 sq. M. km The population of the region is about 1,782,000 people.
Odessa
South of Ukraine, administrative and regional center. Here is the base of the Navy. It is the third largest city in the country. The population is more than 1.5 million people. Built on the Black Sea (Odessa Bay). The largest port. Developed infrastructure. Oil refining, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, production of various food products, medicines. Large educational center. Developed tourism, spa treatment. It is a historical center. Subordinated to 26 districts, 712 cities. The area of the region is 33 310 square meters. km, population - about 2 304 000 people.
Nikolaev
Regional center (south of Ukraine). In terms of population, it is in ninth place. Founded by Grigory Potemkin (1789). In the XIX century. became a fleet management center. The area of the city is 260 square meters. km The population is about 500 thousand people. In submission - 19 districts, 54 cities. The area of the region is 24,598 square meters. km, population - about 1,171,000 people.
Kherson
Regional, cultural, industrial center. Built on the Dnieper (right bank). Large sea and river port. The population is 350 thousand people. The area of the city is 69 square meters. km Subordinate - 18 districts, 45 cities. The area of the region is 28,460 square meters. km The population is about 1,076,000 people. Part of the territory is adjacent to Russia. The length of the border is 108 km along the Sea of Azov and 350 km along the Black Sea.
Kharkov
The largest regional city of Eastern Ukraine. By population, the second city in the country (1.5 million people). In the past - the center of tractor, tank, and turbine engineering. Transport junction Yu.-V. Of Europe. In Kharkov, 142 research institutes. In submission - 27 districts, 710 cities. The area of the region is 31,415 square meters. km The population is 2,741,000 people.
Dnepropetrovsk
The former name is Yekaterinoslav. Built on the banks of the Dnieper. By population it is the fourth city in the country. Large industrial, economic, transport center. Heavy industry is especially developed (metallurgy, mechanical engineering, etc.). The population of Dnepropetrovsk is about 996,000 people. Subordinate - 22 districts, 137 cities. The area of the Dnipropetrovsk region is 31,914 square meters. km The population is about 3 300 000 people.