Sumy Oblast (Ukrainian: Сумська область, translit. Sums’ka oblast; also referred to as Sumshchyna – Ukrainian: Сумщина) is an oblast (province) in the northeastern part of Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Sumy.Other important cities within the oblast include Konotop, Okhtyrka, Romny, and Shostka.As of 1 May 2004, the population is 1,255,866, which includes 886,100 city/town-dwellers, and 483,700 villagers.