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Verkhni Petrivtsi Territorial Community
Chernivtsi
Population:
The Verkhni Petrivtsi community is located in the south-western part of Chernivtsi Oblast. The total area of the community is 7,651.15 hectares. The Verkhni Petrivtsi Community comprises 3 settlements.
As of 1 January 2025, the population of the community totals 8,556 people:
Men: 3,916
Women: 4,640
Internally displaced persons (IDPs): 31
History
The administrative centre of the community is the village of Verkhni Petrivtsi. The first mention of the village dates back to 1610.
The community has a large number of churches, which are ancient monuments. One such monument in Verkhni Petrivtsi village is the Church of “St. Paraskeva,” built in 1909. This church is part of the cultural heritage monuments of Chernivtsi Oblast.
The Church of “St. Nicholas” in Verkhni Petrivtsi village was consecrated in 2011.
On the territory of Nyzhni Petrivtsi village in the Verkhni Petrivtsi Community, there is the Church of “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” built in 1909.
On the community’s territory, there are Catholic churches: “St. Anthony” built in 1907 and “John Paul II” built in 1920. The Church of “John Paul II” is part of the cultural heritage monuments of Chernivtsi Oblast.
An important religious landmark of the community is the women’s Monastery of “The Myrrh-Bearing Women,” located in the “Leorda” corner of Verkhni Petrivtsi village, built in 1994.
Economy and Welfare
In the Verkhni Petrivtsi community, 82 entrepreneurs operate, paying taxes. Most are engaged in retail trade and woodworking.
The education sector operates effectively in the Verkhni Petrivtsi community, receiving the largest share of the community’s budget. The territory of the Verkhni Petrivtsi Village Council has 4 general secondary education institutions with full-time education, where 1,172 students study. There are 62 classes in total, including 14 classes with inclusive education.
The community operates 2 preschool education institutions. Preschool education is received by 125 children. The preschool institutions have 7 groups.
In the community’s education sector, 136 educators work.
The community operates: 3 village libraries, 2 cultural centres, 1 village club.
The community operates a children’s and youth sports school and the Verkhni Petrivtsi Village Council Arts School.
Among healthcare institutions, there are two general practice family medicine outpatient clinics providing primary medical care.
The Community and the War
From the first days of the war, residents of the Verkhni Petrivtsi community have been defending Ukraine against Russian aggression. 37 men from the community are currently defending the state’s territory in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. To date, 4 servicemen from the community have been killed, and 1 is considered missing in action.
In the community, from the beginning of the full-scale invasion, various charity events and fundraisers for military needs have been held.
The Centre for Teaching the Subject “Defence of Ukraine” operates at the Verkhni Petrivtsi Lyceum under a new programme for 10th-11th grade students from all 4 educational institutions in the Verkhni Petrivtsi community.
Significant attention in the community is paid to assisting internally displaced persons. From the beginning of the full-scale war, about 500 internally displaced persons have found shelter in the community; currently, 32 people reside here.
People of the Community
The Verkhni Petrivtsi village head, Ivan Hryzhynku, was first elected to the position of village head in 2020 and has been the acting village head since the establishment of the Verkhni Petrivtsi Rural Territorial Community.
The Verkhni Petrivtsi community is confidently developing and takes pride in its achievements. It successfully supports sports and talented youth: the girls’ volleyball team has become oblast champions, and modern stadiums and a spacious sports hall have been built for young athletes.
Arts schools and a children’s and youth sports school have been opened for children, and safe shelters have been equipped in educational institutions. The community has created an Administrative Services Centre and a Centre for Teaching the Subject “Defence of Ukraine.”
Athletes have repeatedly represented Chernivtsi Oblast at national competitions and won first places.
The Verkhni Petrivtsi community is expanding international cooperation, signing memoranda with Romanian communities and other regions of Ukraine, and has obtained funding for schools with Romanian-language instruction.
Also, an important event in 2025 was the opening in Nyzhni Petrivtsi village of the ethnographic museum “Petrovetska Khata.” The museum building is a 100-year-old house of a homeowner from Nyzhni Petrivtsi village.
Development Strategy
The village council has an approved development strategy until 2027.
The main tasks and goals of the community are as follows:
- Attracting investments for economic development.
- Development of tourism potential.
- Improving the quality of life for community residents.
- Development of the agro-industrial complex.
Sources
- Official website of the Verkhni Petrivtsi Village Council – petrovecka-gromada.gov.ua
- Official Facebook page of the Verkhni Petrivtsi Village Council: facebook.com/Petrivci.rada
- Photographs from the archive of the Verkhni Petrivtsi Village Council