Luhansk Oblast

History

See also: Wild Fields, Sloboda Ukraine, Slavo-Serbia, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Donets Governorate, and Donetsk Oblast

A monument to Don Cossacks in Luhansk. "To the sons of glory and freedom"

The oblast originated in 1938 as Voroshylovhrad (Russian: Voroshilovgrad) Oblast after the Donetsk Oblast was split between Voroshylovhrad and Stalino (today Donetsk Oblast) oblasts. After the invasion by Nazi Germany in 1941 the region came under a German military administration, due to its proximity to frontlines. It was occupied at the end of 1942 as part of Case Blue German offensive directed towards Stalingrad. However soon after the battle of Stalingrad, in the spring of 1943 Luhansk region (at that time Voroshilovgrad) once again became center of military operations during the Soviet counter-offensive operation Little Saturn. By the summer of 1943 the region was liberated from the Nazi Germany Armed Forces. During the Soviet times the Oblast bore its current name between 1958 and 1970.

During the fateful March Referendum of 1991, 70.16% of all Ukrainians voted to remain a part of the Soviet Union as a sovereign republic, while only 27.99% voted 'no'.[11] In the December 1991 referendum, (after the August coup ended all hope of a restored Union,) 83.86% of votes in the oblast were in favor of the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine.

In 1994 a referendum took place in the Donetsk Oblast and the Luhansk Oblast, with around 90% supporting the Russian language gaining status of an official language alongside Ukrainian, and for the Russian language to be an official language on a regional level; however, the referendum was annulled by the Kyiv government.[12][13]

On April 8, 2014, following the annexation of Crimea by Russia, pro-Russian separatists occupying the Luhansk Oblast administrative building planned to declare the independence of the region as the Luhansk Parliamentary Republic, after other pro-Russian separatists declared Donetsk People's Republic in the Donetsk Oblast (April 7, 2014). When the Luhansk Parliamentary Republic ceased to exist, the separatists declared the Luhansk People's Republic (April 27, 2014) and held a disputed referendum on separating from Ukraine on May 11, 2014. The legitimacy of the referendums was not recognized by any government.[14] Ukraine does not recognize the referendum, while the EU and US said the polls were illegal.[15] Subsequently, the war in Donbas started.

As a result of the war in Donbas, Luhansk insurgents control the southern third of the oblast, which includes the city of Luhansk, the region's most populous city as well as the capital of the oblast. Due to this, most oblast government functions have moved to Sievierodonetsk, which forces of the Government of Ukraine recaptured in July 2014. Many universities located in the occupied areas have moved to government-controlled cities such as Sievierodonetsk, Starobilsk or Rubizhne.[16][17] A survey conducted in December 2014 by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found 5.7% of the oblast's population supported their region joining Russia, 84.1% did not support the idea, and the rest were undecided or did not respond; insurgent-controlled areas were not polled.

Today we will look at the tourist trails of the Luhansk region.

Together with "BB" we will consider the possibilities of paid holidays, and places where money is not needed. We will recommend locations with magical landscapes, mystical legends and unique architecture.

TOP-5 sights of the region are waiting for you - go ahead!

Derkul stud farm - a stud farm with a two-hundred-year history

An excursion to the Derkul stud farm will not leave indifferent both horse riding enthusiasts and connoisseurs of architecture. It is located 11 km from Belovodsk in the village of Danilovka. And it is one of the oldest stud farms in Ukraine.

It was founded 253 years ago by decree of Catherine II. If you look at the buildings from a quadrocopter, you can see the monogram of the Empress. And if the drone was not at hand, the local museum has a model of buildings for your attention. Despite the fact that most of the buildings are 100-200 years old, they are still used for their intended purpose. For example, a unique architectural monument - "Japanese Manege". So it is called by the people, but in fact the building has nothing to do with Japan.

It was built in 1897 from Siberian larch wood. Not a single iron nail is driven in here. Everything rests on the central pillar, and also - precision and symmetry.

A room for training young animals is intended. The diameter of the arena is 34 meters, like three circus arenas. There are no analogues to this arena all over the world.

ow there are 160 animals in the stables of the Derkul stud farm. Predominantly purebred horse English breed and Ukrainian horse breed, bred here at the factory in the 80s of the twentieth century. Horses of this breed are powerful and elegant. And many of them are multiple champions and prize-winners of all-Ukrainian and world competitions.

There are no aggressive horses here, says Lyudmila Bashtovaya, foreman of the breeding stock. All horses have the strongest positive biofield and they are ready to share their positive with people. They like to be caressed, but they cannot stand strong smells. Therefore, Lyudmila advises tourists not to abuse perfume before arriving at the stud farm.

Cave skete monastery: feel like a monk

Finding a cave skete monastery is not an easy task. The route for our journalists was drawn on a sheet of paper by the old-timers of the Svatovsky district. We will make your task easier. 49°31'45.0″N 38°05'31.0″E are its coordinates on Google map. It is located between the villages Nagulnoe and Preobrazhennoye.

Frontline Museum in Stanytsia Luhanska

On the front line, just two hundred meters from the line of demarcation with the so-called "LPR", is the Stanichno-Lugansk Museum of Local Lore. Built in 1989, it survived the change of power, political trends, but most importantly, it withstood terrorist attacks and retained its funds. Destroyed by shells and shrapnel in 2014-2015, now partially repaired.

Little by little, the museum staff returns rare expositions to their places, supplementing them with contemporary exhibits.

"Grand Canyon" - beauty in Lisichansk

A "paradise" among the steppes was formed in the area of ​​the Lisichansk gelatin plant relatively recently. And immediately this location was chosen by bloggers, photographers and lovers of beautiful selfies.

With a competent perspective, the local landscape is quite pass for the American canyons.

But the history of its creation is much more trivial. People organized illegal mining of coal, a year ago, law enforcement officers stopped their illegal activities, and little by little the kopanka was filled with groundwater.

Swimming here is unhealthy, but organizing a photo session or organizing a picnic is not difficult. Entrance to the territory is free, it is better to get there by your own transport or by taxi from Lisichansk.

If you know other interesting sights in the Luhansk region, share with us in the comments to the article.