City of regional significance was a city municipality that was designated as a separate district within its region. In Crimea, these cities were referred to as cities of republican significance, while in regular oblasts those municipalities were referred to as cities of oblast significance. The designation of regional significance was created with the introduction of oblasts in 1932 and abolished in 2020. Such city municipality was complex and usually combines the city proper as well as the adjacent populated places. The city of regional significance was governed by a city council known as mis'krada which was chaired by a mayor. There were instances where a municipality may include only the city alone, while in others instances a municipality might consists of its own subdivisions such as districts in city, similarly to the cities with special status or even other cities which carry designation of cities of district significance.
Definition
Each region had at least one city of regional significance as its administrative center. A city was usually granted the status for being an economical and cultural center that has a developed industry, utilities, a considerable amount of state provided housing, and a population of over 50,000, and if for further economical and social development of a city it was appropriate to establish a direct management by regional organizations. In some cases, a city with a population of less than 50,000 could be a city of regional significance if it had important industrial, social-cultural, and historical significance, or a propensity for further economical and social development and population increase. These exceptions were usually granted on a decision of the Supreme Council of Ukraine - Verkhovna Rada. The city could be divided into districts at the city's authorities' discretion. Along with raions of a region, the cities of regional significance are the second level of administrative-territorial division of Ukraine. Beside having districts, the city can be divided into various municipal councils such as smaller city councils, town councils, or rural councils. Additionally, a city of regional significance can simply be composed of one settlement itself. In 2012, there were 178 cities of regional significance across the different regions of Ukraine, ranging from the Donetsk Region, which has the highest number of cities at 28, to the Ternopil Region, which has only one, Ternopil. On average there are seven cities in each oblast or Crimea.
