ROSTOV OBLAST

An administrative region of the Russian Federation. Situated on the head of the Taganrog Bay in theSea of Azov, Rostov Oblast is Russia’s gateway to theCaucasus Mountains. Theoblasthas an international border withUkraine, as well as internal borders with the oblasts ofVolgogradandVoronezh, thekraisofStavropolandKrasnodar, andKalmykiya. It is part of the North CaucasusEconomic Regionand the SouthernFederal District. The region covers an area of 100,800 square kilometers; itsgeographyis characterized by itschernozemsoil and the rivers Don and Severny Donets, as well as three large water reservoirs. The regional capital, Rostov-na-Donu (pop. 1,068,000), is well connected to theCommonwealth of Independent Statesand Europe via air, rail, and shipping links; it is considered the unofficial capital of southern Russia. The city, a former Greek colony, is economically vibrant and ethnically diverse. Other major cities include Taganrog, Shakhty, Novocherkassk, and Volgodonsk. With more than 4.4 million inhabitants, the oblast is the fourth most populous region and one of the more densely populated areas of the federation.Many of Russia’sethnic minoritiesare represented in the region; whileethnic Russiansare the majority (89 percent), there are sizable communities ofUkrainians,Armenians, and Turks, as well as manyCossacks. The regionaleconomyis diversified. In terms ofagriculturalproduction, it is the second-largest producer in the country, focusing on grains, melons, vineyards, corn, rice, and soybeans; more than 80 percent of the oblast’s land is dedicated to farming.Fishing, animal husbandry, and fur farming are also widespread. Engineering and heavy manufacturing are also key components of the regional economy, including production of aircraft and equipment for nuclear facilities. Coalmining, though in decline, is also an important regionalindustry. There are more than 25,000 small businesses in operation in the region. Revenue from shipping andtourismalso add to the oblast’s output. Azov City, one of only four sites in Russia where casinos are permitted as of 1 July 2009, is expected to further contribute to tourism spending and possibly deepen the region’s already highcrimeproblem.

The region disproportionately supported the liberalYablokobloc during the 1990s; in recent years, the regional administration has been dominated by local business interests, with the Communists making rather poor showings. In 1996, Vladimir Chub, a late Sovietera appointee, was popularly reelected as governor. He was reelected again in 2001 before his reappointment byVladimir Putinin 2005. He has a close working relationship withGazprom, owing to the numerous pipelines that cross the oblast heading toward Europe; Chub also served in theFederation Council. In 2007, he was awarded with Chechnya’s highest recognition, the Order ofAkhmad Kadyrov, for his efforts at securing stability in southern Russia; more than 15,000Chechensreside in the region. Chub is also the chair of Russia’s Federal Antiterrorism Commission.

See alsoNuclear Weapons.