LUHANSK

Russian Lugansk, formerly (193858, 197089) Voroshilovgrad oblast (province), Ukraine. It occupies an area in the extreme east of the republic, on the Donets River. North of the river is dry, rolling steppe; south of it are the low hills of the Donets Ridge, originally in forest-steppe but now, like the northern part, almost wholly under the plow. The oblast covers the eastern part of the Donets Coal Basin and industrial area, and its economy is dominated by coal mining, iron and steel production, heavy engineering, and chemicals. About five-sixths of the population is urban. Agriculture is well developed and is largely concerned with grain production. Sunflowers also are important, and there is much market gardening around the cities. Area 10,300 square miles (26,700 square km). Pop. (1991 est.) 2,871,100. Russian Lugansk, formerly (193558, 197089) Voroshilovgrad, city and administrative centre of Luhansk oblast (province), Ukraine. It lies along the Lugan River at the latter's confluence with the Olkhovaya River. The city dates from 1795, when a state iron foundry was established there to supply ordnance to the Black Sea fleet. Luhansk grew with the development of the Donets Coal Basin in the 1890s. The major branch of industry is heavy engineering, dominated by a huge diesel-locomotive works. Steel tubes, coal-mining equipment, spare parts for motor vehicles, and precision instruments also are made; coal is mined in the city. There are also food and timberworking industries. Luhansk has teacher-training, medical, agricultural, and machine-building institutes. Pop. (1991 est.) 503,900.