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Onufriivka Territorial Community
Kirovohrad
Population:
The Onufriivka Community is situated in Oleksandriia Raion, Kirovohrad Oblast.
Total area: 889 sq km.
Population: 16,331
Women: 8,503
Men: 7,828
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): 1458
It consists of 28 settlements. The administrative centre of the community is located in the town of Onufriivka.
History
The history of the Onufriivka Community is the story of the struggle between the Steppe and the Forest-Steppe, the settlements of ancient cultures and dynasties that left their mark on the development of the region. The first inhabitants of these lands were the tribes of the Dnipro-Donetsk culture, who inhabited the territory in the Neolithic period.
The first settlements of Deriivka and Plakhtiivka were founded in 1691.
Onufriivka got its name from the Cossack Vasyl Onufrienko, whose hamlet was first mentioned in 1741. In 1752, Onufriivka became part of New Serbia. Later, after 1776, the settlement passed to another owner, who built the St John the Baptist Church here.
One of the most valuable heritages here is Onufriivka Park, which was laid out in the first half of the 19th century. The Old Park was created in the 1820s, and the New Park was created half a century later. It covered an area of 84 hectares, of which 22 were occupied by a system of ponds. Unique trees grew here: tulip tree, sycamore, Crimean pine, European larch and more than 100 other species. Openwork bridges, waterfalls, fountains and fresh flower arrangements made the park a real gem.
Over time, the community began to adopt advanced agricultural methods and build schools and hospitals. They used modern machinery and raised thoroughbred horses, rambouleau sheep and grey Ukrainian cattle.
The revolutionary events of 1917 dramatically changed the life of the community. The Bolsheviks confiscated the estates. During the World War II, Onufriivka suffered severe trials.
Interestingly, from 1939 to 1941, the outstanding Ukrainian teacher Vasyl Sukhomlynskyi worked here. He turned an ordinary village school into a model of humane pedagogy. He developed a methodology based on education through nature, art and work. Sukhomlynskyi’s ideas about school as a space of joy and harmony have become an integral part of world pedagogical thought.
In 1968, Onufriivka was granted the status of an urban-type settlement, and in 2020 it became part of the Oleksandriia Raion as a territorial community.
Today, the Onufriivka Community is a combination of rich history, natural beauty and modern development that preserves traditions while opening up new opportunities for the future.
Economy and Welfare
The Onufriivka Community is one of the leading agricultural centres in Kirovohrad Oblast, where agriculture plays an important role in the economy. It is home to more than 140 agricultural enterprises that ensure the stable development of the sector. The community also has a developed food industry and several enterprises that are active in various industries.
The community has enterprises that specialise in flour production, bread baking, and production of craft cheeses, providing the community with quality products.
People in the community raise cattle and fish, which makes an important contribution to the community’s fishing sector. Pavlyshanka drinking water is also produced here, providing the community with clean and healthy water.
Luxus-S LLC operates in the community. They specialise in the production of detergents and are a leading Ukrainian manufacturer of household chemicals and PET containers, and an importer of polyethylene containers, closures and dosing products.
There is a developed apple growing and processing sector, including the production of apple crisps, which is a popular product among local residents. Moreover, there is a greenhouse business in the community, which grows greens under the brand name ‘Zhyva Zelen’.
These enterprises not only contribute to the development of the local economy, but also improve the living standards of the community by creating new jobs and increasing production capacity.
The Community and the War
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, no settlement in the Onufriivka Сommunity has been occupied, but due to its geographical location, it has been subjected to missile attacks.
Hostile attacks damaged 115 houses, three schools, a children’s and youth centre, and a house of culture. A commission was quickly set up to inspect the damage, and thanks to local authorities, philanthropists, international organisations and government support, the buildings are being restored.
The community has been actively supporting internally displaced persons since the first day of the war. There is a Coordination Centre at the village council that deals with humanitarian aid, employment and social support for IDPs. Through cooperation with charitable foundations, people receive food packages, hygiene products, clothing, and assistance in applying for benefits.
The community’s priority is to strengthen the country’s defence capability. The local budget has already allocated UAH 40.9 million for the needs of the Armed Forces. Volunteers are constantly organising fundraisers, delivering humanitarian supplies to the frontline, making camouflage nets, trench candles, and sewing clothes for the military. Onufriivka volunteer joins kamikaze drone manufacturing project and teaches people how to assemble drones.
Schoolchildren, teachers and activists are also not standing aside. The children write letters of support, cook goodies and collect necessary items for the soldiers. Charity events such as concerts, fairs and sports competitions are held regularly. For example, the pre-Easter fair ‘I Put Victory in My Basket’ raised over UAH 190,000, which was donated to the needs of the Ukrainian military.
The Onufriivka Сommunity is not just surviving the war, it is working every day for the Victory, supporting the military, helping the victims and rebuilding the future.
Community People
Vitalii Bereza is the Head of the Onufriivka Community. Under his leadership, the community is actively developing infrastructure, education, healthcare, culture and sports. Even in difficult times of war, all enterprises and institutions continue to operate steadily.
The community pays great attention to the patriotic education of young people. In 2024, Onufriivka Stadium hosted three stages of the All-Ukrainian military-patriotic game Sokil (Dzhura), with about 200 children taking part. The community also organised the All-Ukrainian training camp ‘Dzhura the Policeman’, where the Onufriivka team won first place.
Thanks to cooperation with UNICEF, the schools were renovated, recreational areas and shelters were set up, new equipment was installed, and teachers received laptops. The community also purchased a school bus, and the first Safety Classroom was opened in the Onufriivka Lyceum.
The community has a municipal institution ‘Sport for All’ that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Charity tournaments and competitions are held regularly.
In 2021, the community team took second place in the competition ‘Best Starosta District of Kirovohrad Oblast’.
In addition, the ‘FPV People’s Drone’ project is being implemented, which teaches people how to build drones. Work is underway to restore the Mriia cinema building into a sports and recreation complex.
The community purchased new medical equipment, handed over two service apartments to doctors, purchased ambulances and installed an oxygen station in the hospital. In 2024, three police stations were opened under the Community Police Officer programme. Command and control exercises were also held to address possible flooding.
In recent years, the community has repaired three roads, installed two water supply towers, and purchased new municipal equipment.
There is an Administrative Service Centre that provides 347 types of services to residents. There is a territorial centre, a social services centre, and a veteran and psychological hub to support socially vulnerable groups. The community has 12 foster families and two family-type orphanages.
The Onufriivka Community continues to implement new initiatives and develop despite all the challenges.
Development Strategy
The Onufriivka Community has prepared a Development Strategy for 2023-2027 to improve the lives of local residents and develop the community in various ways. The Strategy includes several important goals, including economic development, improvement of the quality of life and sustainable development of all settlements.
The main goal is to support local businesses and create new jobs. To this end, the community plans to develop entrepreneurship, including the creation of processing plants that will help not only local residents but also internally displaced persons. Another important part of the strategy is the major repair of roads of various importance to improve the community’s infrastructure.
The community plans to reconstruct utility networks, improve water supply and water treatment, and introduce energy-efficient technologies to save resources and improve living comfort.
Preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the community is of great importance. It is planned to create tourist routes for hiking, cycling and green tourism, which will attract tourists and develop infrastructure. There is also a plan to reconstruct the Mriia cinema to turn it into a sports and recreation complex where residents can enjoy active recreation.
In general, the development strategy of the Onufriivka Community is aimed at improving people’s lives, developing infrastructure and economy, and preserving cultural heritage for future generations. This requires joint efforts of local authorities, citizens and businesses.