Zymna Voda Territorial Community

Lviv
Population:

Total area: 3,105.38 hectares

Population: 21,924 residents (as of January 1, 2022)

People of active working age (aged from 18 to 60): 12,375;
People aged over 60: 4,790.
Children aged under 6: 1,321;
Children aged from 6 to 18: 3,438;
Internally displaced persons since February 24, 2022: 2,983.

The community includes 5 settlements: the administrative centre in the village of Zymna Voda and four more villages: Lapayivka, Kholodnovidka, Sknyliv, Sukhovolya.

History

The community is located in the West of Ukraine in the immediate vicinity of Lviv within the limits of the northern bypass road.

One of Ukraine’s most populous villages, Zymna Voda has a long and interesting history.

In the oldest records, the village was called Zymni Vody (Cold Waters). Later, governmental and court documents recorded: “the name of the settlement of Zymna Voda is derived from the same-name river”.

According to ancient legends, this river, which originates in the village of Sknyliv, was famous for its cold and clean water, which never froze in winter and never heated up in the hottest summer.

The oldest written mention of the village of Zymna Voda dates back to 1365. At that time, the village existed as an organized unit under the Rus’ Law. Zymna Voda itself, Rudno and Kholodnovidka were united under the common name “Zymna Voda”.

The architectural monument of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Catherine of 1625 (the Church of St. Ivan the Theologian) in the village of Zymna Voda
The architectural monument of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Catherine of 1625 (the Church of St. Ivan the Theologian) in the village of Zymna Voda
Sukhovolya Lyceum
Sukhovolya Lyceum

In this building, the Ordo Sancti Basilii Magni Nunnery of Saint Elijah the Prophet functioned from 1936 to 1950 thanks to the founding activity of Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytskyi.

The wooden belfry is the oldest sacred building of the village of Sukhovolya / source - Zymna Voda Village Council
The wooden belfry is the oldest sacred building of the village of Sukhovolya / source - Zymna Voda Village Council

 Economy and Public Welfare

The economic development of the Zymna Voda territorial community is primarily related to the effective use of land resources which is the basis of trade and logistics sector development.

The proximity to Lviv and access to 2 international highways creates attractive conditions for business. Logistics centres, shopping malls, hotels and other businesses are concentrated here.

Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs registering motor vehicles in the village of Zymna Voda / source - Zymna Voda Village Council
Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs registering motor vehicles in the village of Zymna Voda / source - Zymna Voda Village Council
Protect-Ukraine Logistics Centre
Protect-Ukraine Logistics Centre
Epicentre Building Hypermarket on the territory of the community
Epicentre Building Hypermarket on the territory of the community

Community and War

The war has made significant adjustments to the community’s life having divided it into before and during. Residents and local authorities have faced new, unexpected challenges.

Since the first days of the war, the community has joined volunteer activities to provide the military with everything they need.

There were 8 collection points for humanitarian aid in the community. Here they sorted and issued humanitarian aid from different countries of the world, volunteer and public organizations, caring residents of the community, deputies, entrepreneurs and patrons.

Aid collection point in the People’s House of the village of Zymna Voda
Aid collection point in the People’s House of the village of Zymna Voda

Various volunteer activities, including the baking of bread and buns, preparing of canned meat and weaving of camouflage nets, were organized in educational institutions.

Residents of the community prepare canned meat
Residents of the community prepare canned meat
Baking bread in the school canteen
Baking bread in the school canteen

Residents collect and deliver food, medicines and other items for the Ukrainian military on the front line. Thanks to caring people, the Zymna Voda community has managed to donate vehicles to our armed forces.

Weaving of camouflage nets in Lyceum No. 2
Weaving of camouflage nets in Lyceum No. 2

Since the beginning of the war, 2,983 internally displaced persons have been officially registered in the community. 759 of them still reside here.

Assistance to internally displaced persons
Assistance to internally displaced persons

Housing in the community was searched for and arranged for people who were forced to leave their homes and flee the war. Thus, there was a one-day shelter for people who were in transit through the territory of Zymna Voda in one of the preschool institutions of the community.

Charity event in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Charity event in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Zymna Voda village council, together with the charity foundation and volunteers, organized several charity events. The collected funds were spent on the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

People of the Community

Volodymyr Hutnyk (58 years old) is the headman of the Zymna Voda Territorial Community. He has 2 university degrees in Agronomics and Economics.

Volodymyr Hutnyk, Headman of the Zymna Voda Territorial Community
Volodymyr Hutnyk, Headman of the Zymna Voda Territorial Community

From 2006 to 2018, he held the post of Headman of the village of Zymna Voda.

After the decentralization reform, on December 23, 2018, he was elected as Chairman of the Zymna Voda Village Council of the United Territorial Communities which included 4 villages: Zymna Voda, Lapayivka, Kholodnovidka, and Sknyliv. In continuation of the decentralization process, the village of Sukhovolya was included in the community.

In October 2020, according to the results of elections to local councils, Volodymyr Hutnyk became the headman of the Zymna Voda Territorial Community.

Implemented projects:

Thanks to active work, a number of projects were implemented in the community, including:

  • construction of the preschool education facility Kazkovyi Svit seating  240 children (2011),
  • construction of the preschool education institution Dytyachyi Vsesvit seating  240 children (2010),
  • overhaul of part of the roof and facade of the Hero of Ukraine Heorhiy Kirpa Lapayivka Lyceum 
Construction of the preschool education facility Kazkovyi Svit
Construction of the preschool education facility Kazkovyi Svit
Construction of the preschool education facility Dytyachyi Vsesvit
Construction of the preschool education facility Dytyachyi Vsesvit
Overhaul of part of the roof and facade of the Hero of Ukraine Heorhiy Kirpa Lapayivka Lyceum
Overhaul of part of the roof and facade of the Hero of Ukraine Heorhiy Kirpa Lapayivka Lyceum

Culture and Sports

Since 2015, the Homin of Lemkivshchyna festival has been held annually in Zymna Voda.

Performance of the folk dance ensemble at the Homin of Lemkivshchyna festival
Performance of the folk dance ensemble at the Homin of Lemkivshchyna festival

The festival is organized for the revival and popularization of Lemkos culture, as well as in memory of the 1944-1951 deportation of Ukrainians – autochthonous inhabitants of Lemkivshchyna, Nadsiannia, Kholmshchyna, Southern Pidlyashshia, Lyubachivshchyna, Western Boykivshchyna – from their home lands.

Teams from all over Ukraine, as well as guests from different countries of the world, take part in the festival.

Lighting of the traditional bonfire at the Homin of Lemkivshchyna festival
Lighting of the traditional bonfire at the Homin of Lemkivshchyna festival

The community accommodates the Woodshed Museum, which entered the National Register of Records of Ukraine in 2021 as the largest private collection of old woodsheds.

There is also a pottery workshop here, where a local potter gives training in this ancient art.

The Woodshed Museum in the village of Sukhovolya and the World of Pottery workshop/
The Woodshed Museum in the village of Sukhovolya and the World of Pottery workshop/

To popularize sports in the community, new football fields were built:

Football field with artificial turf near Lyceum No. 1 in Zymna Voda
Football field with artificial turf near Lyceum No. 1 in Zymna Voda
Multifunctional minifield in Lapayivka
Multifunctional minifield in Lapayivka
Football field with artificial turf near Lyceum No.2
Football field with artificial turf near Lyceum No.2

Development Strategy 

The Zymna Voda territorial community is developing according to its own development strategy for 2020-2024.

The priority tasks of the community include as follows:

  • development and increase in the number of commercial and industrial facilities;
  • development of the social component of the community (quality educational, medical, cultural, tourist and sports services)
  • infrastructure development.

 List of Sources

  • Information Bulletin of the Zymna Voda United Territorial Community No. 1, 2020
  • Information Bulletin of the Zymna Voda Rural Territorial Community No. 2, 2021.
  • Information Bulletin of the Zymna Voda Territorial Community No. 3, 2022.
  • Official website of the Zymna Voda Territorial Community.
  • Photo and video materials: Zymna Voda Territorial Community Facebook page 
  • Wikipedia
  • Zymna Voda. The Present through the Prism of the Past and with a View to the Future. Lviv, Kamula, 2010.
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