The administrative reform of 1727 was carried out soon after
Peter the Great's death, when it became apparent that
previous reform was not working as planned. The fast pace of the reforms came into contradiction with the traditional ways of doing things. Newly created bureaucracy required significant financial investments, which the government was lacking. Neither
Catherine I, Peter I's second wife and successor, nor her government were willing to go on with the reforms in their original form. As a result, the 1727 reform became a step back, abolishing the system of districts (
Russian: ди́стрикты) and restoring the old system of uezds (уе́зды) instead. A total of 166 uyezds were re-established, and with the newly created uyezds the
Russian Empire had approximately 250 uyezds.
1727—new Belgorod Governorate was formed from Belgorod, Oryol, and Sevsk Provinces (провинции) of Kiev Governorate.
1727—new Novgorod Governorate was formed from Belozersk, Novgorod, Pskov, Tver, and Velikiye Luki Provinces of the St. Petersburg Governorate.
1727—Uglich and Yaroslavl Provinces of the St. Petersburg Governorate were transferred to Moscow Governorate.
1727—Narva Province of St. Petersburg Governorate was transferred to Revel Governorate.
1727—Solikamsk and Vyatka Provinces of Siberian Governorate were transferred to Kazan Governorate.
Ю. Готье. "История областного управления в России от Петра I до Екатерины II". Том I. "Реформа 1727 года. Областное деление и областные учреждения 1727-1775 гг.". Издание Императорского общества Истории и Древностей Российских при Московском университете. Москва, 1913.