Oblast - Definition and Overview

An oblast (Russian, Ukrainian: о́бласть) is a name for the subnational entity of Bulgaria, Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union.

In the Soviet Union and the mentioned post-Soviet republics, oblasts are one step below the national level and further subdivided into districts called raiony or rayony (Russian: райо́ны; Ukrainian: райони). The word is often translated as "province" or "region".

In Bulgaria, the top-level subdivision is into regions, with further division into oblasts.

Related articles

• Regions of Bulgaria
• Subdivisions of Ukraine
• Subdivisions of Russia, Federal subjects of Russia
• Oblasts of Russia,
  • Voblast, the corresponding term in Belarus
  • Oblysy, the corresponding term in Kazakhstan
  • Guberniya, the subdivision level matching to oblasts in Imperial Russia and early Soviet Union