Chernihivs’ka oblast’ (Чернігівська область, Chernihivs’ka oblast’ in Ukrainian) is an oblast' (province) of northern Ukraine. Its capital is Chernihiv (also known as Chernigov in Russian and Czernihуw in Polish).

Historically, the oblast is a part of Polissya region of Ukraine. The area of the province is 31,900 km², its population (as of 1 May 2004) is 1,200,416.

Geography

The oblast is bordered by the Kyivs'ke reservoir of Dnipro and the Kyivs'ka oblast' to the west, by the Sums'ka oblast' to the east, and the Poltavs'ka oblast' to the south. The Chernihivs'ka oblast' forms part of Ukraine's international border with Belarus' Homyel voblast (to the north-west) and the Russia's Bryansk Oblast (to the north), respectively.

Important cities and historical settlements of the Chernihivs'ka oblast' include:

• Bakhmach
• Chernihiv (capital city)
• Koriukivka
• Koselets' (historical city)
• Nizhyn (important cultural and industrial center)
• Novhorod-Sivers'kiy (historical city)
• Pryluky (important industrial center and major Air Force base)
• Slavutych (remote residential center of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant)

The oblast is bisected into northern and southern regions by the Desna River, which enters the Dnipro just north of the Kyiv city limits.

History

The capital city of Chernihiv has known human settlement for over 2,000 years, according to archaeological excavations. Chernihivs'ka oblast' comprises a very important historical region, notable as early as the Kyivan Rus' period, when the oblast' cities of Chernihiv and Novhorod-Sivers'kiy were frequently mentioned. The city of Chernihiv was the second most important Ukrainian city during the Rus' period of Ukrainian history, often serving as a major regional capital. Danylo of Chernihiv wrote of his pilgrimage to Jerusalem during this era. The numerous architectural monuments of the city bear witness to the invasions suffered: Tatar/Mongol, Lithuanian, Polish, Russianand Nazi.

Industry and economics

The economy of the Chernihivs'ka oblast' mostly deals with petroleum and natural gas extraction, transport, machinery, tobacco and textile industry. A major tobacco factory is situated in Pryluky . Cities of Bakhmach and Nizhyn are the important railway junctions on the route from Russia and Belarus to South-Eastern Europe. There are notable machinery and electronics industries in Chernihiv.

Demographics

The population of the Chernihivs'ka oblast' is overwhelmingly Ukrainian, with some minority Belarusian and Russian population, concentrated in the northern districts.

Religion

The religion among believers in the Chernihivs'ka oblast' is overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian. A substantial percentage of the population is atheist. Small minorities of Greek Catholics, Roman Catholics (among descendants of Polish colonists), and recent converts to Protestantism are also present.

Culture and tourist attractions

There are few outstanding historical Orthodox churches and buildings in Chernihiv, Novhorod-Sivers'kiy and Koselets' (the ancient Rus' town elder than Kyiv). Nizhyn is a historical Cossack city and home to a university.

See also

Subdivisions of Ukraine

References

Kardash, Peter. Ukraine and Ukrainians. Ed. Peter Lockwood. Melbourne: Fortuna Publishers, 1988.