Full explanation
The oblast is Ukraine's largest administrative unit. The 24 oblasts plus Kyiv split into four agricultural zones: Polissia (5 northern oblasts with sandy soils and a humid climate), the Forest-Steppe (central chernozem belt, 9 oblasts), the Steppe (southern dry oblasts, 7), and the Carpathian region (western mountain oblasts, 3). Each oblast has its own agricultural specialization: Vinnytsia and Cherkasy focus on grain and sugar beet; Poltava has the highest wheat yields; Kherson is vegetables and irrigated crops.