Administratively, Donetsk has been the centre of Donetsk Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and largest city of the larger economic and cultural Donets Basin (Donbas) region.

5 hours ago · Donetsk once accounted for more than half of Ukraine's coal, finished steel, coke, cast iron and steel production, though many mines and facilities have been destroyed in the war.

Dec 27, 2025 · Donetsk, city, southeastern Ukraine, on the headwaters of the Kalmius River. It is the capital of Donetsk oblast (province) and the most prominent city in the Donets Basin industrial region.

2 hours ago · What is the Donbas region? Collectively known as the Donbas, the two coal-rich eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk used to be Ukraine’s industrial heartland.

For more than a decade, Russian aggression has made Ukraine’s Donetsk region synonymous with war. It’s both a symbol of Kyiv’s resistance and a gauge of the conflict’s progress.

Aug 24, 2025 · The Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine has long been in Moscow's sights. Vladimir Putin reportedly says he'll freeze the war in return for full control of it.

Aug 20, 2025 · According to an estimate by Reuters news agency, Ukraine still holds about 6,600 sq km (2,548 sq miles) of territory in Donetsk. About a quarter of a million people remain there, local officials...

5 hours ago · Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine face a major hurdle. The core issue is the disputed Donetsk region. Russia wants Ukraine to cede territory it currently controls. Ukraine insists …

Located on the upper reaches of the Kalmiius River in the steppe region, this industrial settlement (city since 1920) grew to become the largest center of coal mining and metallurgy and the fifth-largest city …

23 hours ago · Kyiv defends cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk within Donetsk, viewing them as crucial for its broader defense against potential further Russian advances.