1) Russian province 2) Soviet division 3) Soviet subdivision 4) Subdivision for the Reds 5) Type of country subdivision 
An oblast is a type of administrative division in some Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word `oblast` is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as `area`, `zone`, `province`, or `region`. The last translation may lead to confusion, because the subdivision of `oblast` is ...
A territorial and administrative subdivision in ten of the fifteen union republics. Directly subordinate to its union republic. See also autonomous oblast.
an administrative division of the Soviet Union
A territorial and administrative subdivision in ten of the fifteen union republics (q.v.). Directly subordinate to its union republic. See also autonomous oblast.
A major territorial and administrative subdivision in the newly independent states. Russia has forty-nine such divisions, which approximate provinces.