Donbas

The Donbas or Donbass is a historical, cultural, and economic region in southeastern Ukraine. Parts of the Donbas are controlled by separatist groups as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian War: the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. The word Donbas is a portmanteau formed from "Donets Basin", an abbreviation of "Donets Coal Basin". The name of the coal basin is a reference to the Donets Ridge; the latter is associated with the Donets river.