Kehychivka Territorial Community

History

The settlement of Kehychivka itself was formed in the second half of the 18th century from two small hamlets – Dobroivanivka and Yehorivka. These farmsteads were inhabited by peasants – serfs who belonged to the landowner – an officer of the Kursk Regiment Apostol-Kehych. The modern name of the settlement comes from his surname.

The further development of Kehychivka is connected with the construction of the Lozova – Krasnohrad railway in 1897 – 1905. At this time, Kehychivka became the center of the parish.

In January 1918, the volost and zemstvo administrations in Kehychivka were dissolved.

From 1923, the settlement of Kehychivka was the center of the district, which was part of the Kharkiv region from January 1935 and is part of the Poltava region now. On July 17, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 3650 “On the Formation and Liquidation of Districts.”

Reorganization of districts began in December 2020, after the law on demarcation of powers and resources between districts and communities came into force. The Kehychivka district became part of the Krasnohrad district. And the Kehychivka settlement council was formed out of 14 village councils and 2 settlement councils.

The ethnic minority of Meskhetian Turks has been living on the territory of the community in the villages of Vovkivka and Mazharka for more than 30 years. They came to the community in 1989 in connection with the conflict in the Fergana region of Uzbekistan. After the declaration of Ukraine’s independence, representatives of the national minority received Ukrainian citizenship and land shares, which they cultivate independently, specializing in growing vegetables.

There is an interesting location in the Kehychivka community near the village of Antonivka – Salt Lake. It was formed as a result of a man-made accident that occurred during the drilling of a gas well. It is important to say that many vacationers note the beneficial properties of salt water – it has a healing effect on wounds and a positive effect on sore joints. It is interesting that there is a version about the maximum depth of the lake of about 2,500 meters, but there is no official confirmation to date.

Economy and Welfare 

Agriculture is one of the most important components of the industrial and economic complex. Traditionally and historically, it is an agricultural community, where 45 agricultural enterprises and farms work. There are also 5 manufacturing enterprises, which are mainly engaged in the processing, storage and sale of agricultural products.

The land here is rich in natural gas deposits. Joint-Stock Company “Ukrgazvydobuvannya”, which is part of the Naftogaz group, operates on the territory of the community. There is also an underground gas storage facility.

Three communal enterprises provide services to the population in the field of housing and utilities.

The branch of trade is well-developed and widely represented. There are 139 stores, three stationary markets, and 22 household enterprises.

The healthcare industry is represented by two communal enterprises. Primary health care services are provided by the Center for Primary Health Care, which includes 3 dispensaries of general practice of family medicine and 15 medical and midwifery stations. Also, there is a secondary health facility – Kehychivka Central District Hospital.  There are also 6 pharmacies in the community.

There is one vocational education institution, 9 institutions of general secondary education, 8 preschool institutions, 2 out-of-school institutions working with children with special needs, and the Inclusive Resource Center in the Kehychivka area.

The community also has a developed network of cultural institutions: there is a Center for Culture and Leisure, a Public Library, and an art school in the community’s administrative center, 19 village clubs and 22 branch libraries in the villages, and an art school, a museum and a library in the settlement of Slobozhanske.

There is 1 children’s youth sports school in the community. Also, there are sports grounds, including with hard court, and football fields on the territory of the community.

Community and War

Since the beginning of the war, none of the population centers of the Kehychivka community has been occupied by the enemy. There is no destruction of the housing stock, public buildings, infrastructure facilities for life support of the population or enterprises. There is no community area that needs demining.

The deputy corps and the settlement head have a clear and balanced position regarding the financial support of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, because defense capability is now paramount. In particular, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, almost UAH 25.7 million has been allocated from the settlement budget for the implementation of tasks to strengthen the state’s defense capabilities.

Labor groups of educational institutions of the community tirelessly prepare various dishes for the defenders. Culture workers make a ready-to-use healing mixtures of honey, nuts and viburnum.

In addition, community activists weave camouflage nets, collect food, sew balaclavas, underwear and clothes for the defenders.

Charity concerts, performances, and sports events are constantly held during which funds are collected to support the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine.

Residents of the community have repeatedly joined such a necessary and useful cause as blood donation.

Caring residents of the Kehychivka community are members of the DrukArmia community, which provides the military with the necessary resources created with the help of 3D printing. This activity is carried out with the comprehensive support of the settlement council, the large educational family of the community and with the direct participation of the workforce of the youth, education, and sports department.

People of the Community

Anton Dotsenko is the head of the Kehychivka community.

Also, the following projects were successfully implemented in 2023:

• “School of success. We are restoring the educational environment for students’ learning and development” – financed with the regional and local budget funds;
• “Human health – the value of the community: provision of high-quality medical services in esophagogastroduoendoscopy to the population of the Kehychivka community” – financed with the funds of the regional settlement budget and sponsorship contributions;
• Major repair and arrangement of civil defense facilities (shelter) of the communal institution “Kehychivka Lyceum” – financed with the local budget.

Many residents are supporters of a healthy lifestyle and are engaged in physical education and sports. Various sports events and competitions are held in the community throughout the year. It has become a good tradition to hold football, volleyball, table tennis, beach volleyball, and chess tournaments. Such sports as taekwondo, kick-boxing, Cossack duel are actively developing.

Development Strategy

The Development Strategy of the Kehychivka Settlement Council for 2021-2025 was developed and approved by the appropriate decision of the session. According to this document, the following strategic development goals are defined:

• economic capacity;
• services for the population according to European standards;
• modern and functional infrastructure.

The community needs and is interested in implementing the following projects:

• carrying out major road surface repair works (state, local and communal roads);
• creation of processing enterprises to provide jobs for the population;
• reconstruction of engineering networks, installation of water towers, reconstruction of water wells
• increasing the level of energy efficiency of communally owned buildings and structures;
• introduction of energy-efficient technologies;
• construction of a stadium in the center of the community;
• projects to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the community;
• creation of tourist routes for pedestrian, bicycle and green tourism.

List of Sources

• Official website of the Kehychivka Settlement Council: Kehychivkaaselrada.gov.ua
• Facebook page of the Kehychivka Settlement Council
• Link to video material
• Link to photo materials