What countries use oblast?

An oblast (/ˈɒblæst/; also UK: /ˈɒblɑːst/) is a type of administrative division of Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as the former Soviet Union and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

What is the difference between a krai and an oblast?

The only difference between an oblast and a krai is tradition, as Krai was used to refer to territories at the edge of the main Russian state and was traditionally occupied by ethnic non-Russians. Legally there is no difference in status between an Oblast and a Krai.

What is the Kaliningrad Oblast?

The Kaliningrad Oblast is an oblast or “state” in the Russian Federation that’s completely surrounded by Poland, Lithuania, and the Baltic sea. Thanks to the geopolitical aftermath of World War II, this small Russian territory is in the curious position of not touching any other part of Russia.

Why is Kaliningrad important to the Soviet Union?

The city was rebuilt, and as the westernmost territory of the USSR, the Kaliningrad Oblast became a strategically important area during the Cold War. The Soviet Baltic Fleet was headquartered in the city in the 1950s. Because of its strategic importance, Kaliningrad Oblast was closed to foreign visitors.

How did Kaliningrad become the richest city in Russia?

Early in the 21st century, the hitherto fledgling economy of Kaliningrad Oblast became one of the best performing economies in Russia. This was helped by a low manufacturing tax rate related to its “Special Economic Zone” (SEZ) status. As of 2006 , one in three televisions manufactured in Russia came from Kaliningrad.

What is the meaning of the name Kaliningrad?

Kaliningrad ( Russian: Калининград, IPA: [kəlʲɪnʲɪnˈɡrat], German: Königsberg, Polish: Królewiec, Lithuanian: Karaliaučius) is a city in the administrative centre of Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea . In the Middle Ages it was the site…