oblast

An oblast is a type of administrative division used in several countries, usually translated as region or province. The word derives from Slavic languages and denotes a geographic area or administrative district within a country. The exact powers, status, and boundaries of an oblast vary by nation, but the term commonly refers to a large territorial unit that forms part of a federation or a unitary state.

In Russia, oblasts are federal subjects, forming the main administrative divisions alongside republics, krais, autonomous oblasts, autonomous okrugs, and federal cities. Each oblast has its own governor and a regional legislature and is subdivided into districts. In Ukraine, oblasts are the primary subdivisions of the country, headed by a regional state administration appointed by the central government and by a locally elected regional council. In Kazakhstan, oblasts—referred to as regions—are first-level divisions subdivided into districts and cities and governed by an akim appointed by the president.

In Bulgaria, oblasts (oblasti) are administrative regions that subdivide the country into municipalities and are represented by regional governors who coordinate central government policy at the regional level. Across these countries, oblasts typically handle matters such as regional development, budget planning, and local infrastructure, while many policy areas remain under national jurisdiction.

Historically, the oblast form originated in the Russian Empire and was standardized in the Soviet era. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, several successor states retained oblasts as their principal regional units, although borders and governance have evolved in some places. The term is occasionally used in historical or cross-border contexts to refer to similar administrative regions in other countries.