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Krai or kray (Russian: край) is a term used to refer to nine of Russia's 83 federal subjects. The term is often translated as territory, province, country or region.

Etymologically, the word is related with the verb "кроить" (kroit'), i.e., "to cut". ¹

Historically, krais were vast territories located along the periphery of Russia, since the word krai also means border, i.e., a place of the cut-off.

Currently the administrative usage of the term is mostly traditional, as some oblasts also fit this description and there is no difference in legal status between the krais and the oblasts.²

Krais in modern Russia are divided into districts (raions), as are most other federal subjects.

The name of the country "Ukraine" incorporates the word krai.

See also

• Krais of Russia, a list of modern krais
• Krais of Imperial Russia, a list of krais that existed in the Russian Empire
• Kraj, an equivalent term used in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
• Krajina

References