Kherson Oblast (Ukrainian:Херсонська область,romanized: Khersonska oblast,IPA:[xerˈsɔnʲsʲkɐˈɔblɐsʲtʲ];Russian:Херсонская область), also known asKhersonshchyna (Херсонщина,IPA:[xerˈsɔnʃtʃɪnɐ]), is anoblast (province) in southernUkraine. It is located just north ofCrimea. Itsadministrative center isKherson, on the northern orright bank of theDnieper river, which bisects the oblast. The oblast has an area of 28,461 km2 and a population of1,001,598 (2022 estimate).[3] It is considered the 'fruit basket' of the country, as much of its agricultural production is dispersed throughout the country, with production peaking during the summer months.
A survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in December 2014 found that 90.9% of the oblast's population opposed their region joining Russia, 1% supported the idea, and the rest were undecided or did not respond.[10][11]
As a result of the 24 February 2022Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces occupied most of the oblast. Russian-controlled parts of the oblast were governed by the "Kherson military–civilian administration"[12] from 28 April to 30 September 2022.
On 27 July 2022, the Ukrainian army destroyed theAntonivka Road Bridge, as part of its wider campaign to isolate the Russian forces on theright bank of theDnieper river.[13]
On 23–27 September 2022, theRussian Federation heldreferendums in the occupied territories of Kherson oblast for the "independence and subsequent entry into the Russian Federation". Most states recognized the referendums to be staged and against international law.[citation needed]
On 29 September, the Russian Federation recognized Kherson Oblast as an independent state.[14] The next day, Russian presidentVladimir Putin announced theannexation of the Kherson Oblast and signed an "accession decree" that is widely considered to be illegal.[15] At that time, Russia was not in control of the province as a whole.[16]
TheUnited NationsGeneral Assembly subsequently passeda resolution calling on countries not to recognise what it described as an "attempted illegal annexation" and demanded that Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw".[17]
By 11 November 2022, the city of Kherson and all the Russian-held territory on the right bank of the Dnieper had been recaptured by Ukrainian forces.[18] The territory on the left bank is still under Russian control.
On 6 June 2023, the Kakhovka Damwas breached, causing extensive flooding downstream and prompting mass evacuations in the oblast, while theKakhovka Reservoir was drained.[19]
Kherson is the only city in the oblast with a population over 100,000. Four other cities have over 30,000; they are, in order from largest,Nova Kakhovka,Kakhovka,Oleshky andHenichesk.
Until the 2020 re-organisation, the Kherson Oblast was administratively subdivided into 18raions (districts) and 3municipalities. The municipalities –Kherson (administrative center of the oblast),Nova Kakhovka, andKakhovka – were directly subordinate to the oblast government. The Kherson municipality was subdivided into 3 urban districts. All information below was current as of 2015.[22]
.* Note: Though the administrative center of the raion is housed in the city/town that it is named after, cities do not answer to the raion authorities only towns do; instead they are directly subordinated to the oblast government and therefore are not counted as part of raion statistics.
At a lower level of administration, these district-level administrations are subdivided into:
The local administration of the oblast is controlled by the Kherson Regional Council. The governor of the oblast is the Kherson Regional Council speaker, appointed by thePresident of Ukraine.
Demographics
People inNova Kakhovka in 2017Children in the Kherson Oblast in 2019People in the resort village ofShchaslyvtseve in 2016
The population of the oblast is 1,083,367 (2012), which is 2.4% of the total population of Ukraine. It is also ranked 21st by its population. The population density is 38 per km2.
About 61.5% or 745,400 people live in urban areas of the Oblast and 38.5% or 467,600 people live in agricultural centers/villages. Men make up 46.7% or 565,400 people of the population, women make up 53.3% or 644,600 people, andpensioners make up 26.2% or 317,400 people of the oblast population.
^ab"Oleshia".encyclopediaofukraine.com. Retrieved23 May 2024.
^abSłownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom XII (in Polish). Warszawa. 1892. p. 266.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Moll, Herman (1701).A System Of Geography: Or, A New & Accurate Description Of The Earth In all its Empires, Kingdoms and States. Illustrated with History and Topography, And Maps of every Country, Fairly Engraven on Copper, according to the latest Discoveries and Corrections. London. p. 442.
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