KYIV – On July 17 a big step in decentralization was taken by the Ukrainian Parliament: for the first time since the Soviet era, the borders and centers of administrative units across the country were changed. Those units are called “raions,” and only a few weeks ago, Ukraine had 490 of them incorporated into 24 oblasts and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Now those oblasts and Crimea have only 136 raions (districts) encompassing different territories, populations and administrative centers.
This massive change comes only three months before local elections, when deputies and heads of raion councils will be chosen.