[[File:DPR and LPR.png|350px|thumb|[[Donetsk]] {yellow} and [[Luhansk]] {pink} in the Donbas.]]
[[File:DPR and LPR.png|350px|thumb|[[Donetsk]] {yellow} and [[Luhansk]] {pink} in the Donbas.]]
−
The '''Donbas''' or '''Donbass''' is a [[portmanteau]] formed from '''Donets Basin''' associated with the river Donets in [[Eastern Europe]]an. The river originates in [[Russia]] and flows through the [[Ukraine]]ian Oblast of [[Kharkiv]], the [[Donetsk Peoples Republic]]' the [[Luhansk Peoples Republic]], and then again through [[Russia]]n territory in Rostov to join the Don River about 60 miles from the [[Sea of Azov]]. The Donbas is an important cultural and economic region in Eastern Europe and considered part of Russia's [[Near abroad]].
+
The '''Donbas''' or '''Donbass''' is a [[portmanteau]] formed from '''Donets Basin''' associated with the river Donets river in [[Eastern Europe]]an. The river originates in [[Russia]] and flows through the [[Ukraine]]ian Oblast of [[Kharkiv]], the [[Donetsk Peoples Republic]], the [[Luhansk Peoples Republic]], and then again through [[Russia]]n territory in Rostov to join the Don River about 60 miles above the [[Sea of Azov]]. The Donbas is an important cultural and economic region in Eastern Europe and portions considered part of Russia's [[Near abroad]].