Orenburg Oblast also shares an international border with Kazakhstan to the east and south.

[10] In the first half of the 18th century, the Russian Empire constructed the Irtysh line [ru], a series of 46 forts, including Orenburg,[11] to prevent Kazakh and Dzungar nomads from raiding Russian territory.

[12] Orenburg played a major role in Pugachev's Rebellion (1773–1774), the largest peasant revolt in Russian history.

On 26 May 2024, a Ukrainian drone attacked the Voronezh M long-range radar station near Orsk.

Its climate is favorable to farming with a humid spring, dry summer and many sunny days, which make perfect conditions for cultivating hard wheat and rye, sunflowers, potatoes, peas, beans, corn, and gourds.