Donetsk Oblast (,
Donets'ka oblast'; also referred to as
Donechchyna –
Donechchyna; ,
Donetskaya oblast ) is an
oblast (province) of eastern
Ukraine. It is the most populated oblast, with around 4.5 million residents. Its
administrative center is
Donetsk; however, its Regional State Administration was relocated to
Mariupol, a temporary measure due to the ongoing crisis in
Donetsk. Historically, the region is an important part of the
Donbas region. Until November 1961, it bore the name
Stalino Oblast, as its capital Donetsk was named Stalino in honour of
Joseph Stalin at that time.