oblastí

Oblastí is the genitive plural form of the Czech noun oblast, used when referring to multiple oblasts (regions). The word oblast denotes a type of administrative division used in several countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. An oblast is generally a large subnational unit that provides local governance under a central state; it is usually subdivided into districts and municipalities and has an administrative center.

In Russia, an oblast is a federal subject, one level below the national government. In Ukraine and Belarus, oblasts serve as primary administrative divisions, subdivided into smaller districts known as raions. In Kazakhstan, oblasts are the top-level administrative units, with major cities functioning as separate entities of national significance.

The exact powers and structures of oblast authorities vary by country, but common features include a regional executive (governor or head of administration), a regional legislature or council, and a system of subnational units such as districts or municipalities. The term is often translated as "region" or "province" in English, though its legal status is not identical in all countries.

Historically, oblasts emerged in the Russian Empire and were later adopted or adapted by Soviet administrative practice. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many successor states have retained oblasts as their primary subnational divisions, while others reformed or renamed them.