The workforce is heavily involved with heavy industry, especially coal mining. The city is an important center of heavy industry and coal mines in the Donets Basin (Donbas) and the Ukraine.
Donetsk is the administrative centre of Donetsk region.
The City was founded in1869 by John James Hughes, the English technician and metallurgist, the manager of Novorossiysk Coal, Iron and Rail Production Company.
At first it was called Yuzovka, from 1924 till 1961 - Stalino, since 1961 it has been called Donetsk.
Donetsk today counts with 1.131.700 inhabitants.
While the majority of people in central and western Ukraine speak Ukrainian, most residents of Donetsk are Russian-speaking Ukrainians and ethnic Russians. According to 2001 population census [5], Ukrainians are 56,9% of Donetsk oblast and Russians are 38,2%. The Russian language is dominant in Donbas.
Official website of Donetsk:
http://www.donetsk.org.ua/today/
