Chyhyryn Territorial Community

The community includes 25 population centres: 1 town of Chyhyryn and 24 villages and settlements. The area of the Chyhyryn community is 887,012 km2, which is 12.9% of the territory of the Cherkasy district. This makes it the largest of the 26 communities of the Cherkasy district. The eastern part of the community lies on the shore of the Kremenchuk Reservoir.

History

Chyhyryn occupies an important place in the history of Ukraine. The town was founded in the first half of the 16th century, and as soon as in 1592 it already had Magdeburg rights.

One of the most glorious pages of the past of the Chyhyryn neighbourhood is connected with the life and activities of Hetman of Ukraine Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, a native of the village of Subotiv, which today belongs to the Chyhyryn community.

During the years of the Ukrainian National Revolution of 1648-1676, the Chyhyryn neighbourhood was the centre of the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their statehood. At that time, Chyhyryn was the residence of the Ukrainian Cossack hetmans  –  Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, Ivan Vyhovskyi, Yuriy Khmelnytskyi, Pavlo Teterya, Petro Doroshenko and even the capital of the Ukrainian hetman state.

The Church of Elijah the Prophet in the village of Subotiv of the Chyhyryn community depicted on a five hryvnia banknote.

At the beginning of October 1917,  the All-Ukrainian Congress of Free Cossacks was held in the town, at which Pavlo Skoropadskyi , General of the Tsarist Armed Forces, was elected Chieftain to further become Hetman of the Ukrainian State – the last one to hold this post. It was he who laid the foundations of public service in Ukraine, introduced the national currency – hryvnia, and significantly strengthened the international ties of Ukraine at that time.

Museum Town

The Chyhyryn National Historical and Cultural Reserve operates on the territory of the town of Chyhyryn. Its total area is 1161.7 hectares. The reserve includes 5 museums, 34 monuments of history, archaeology, architecture, and nature. Monuments from different times have been preserved here, but most of the objects are related to the history of the Cossacks and the formation of the statehood of the Ukrainian people.

On Mount Zamkova, which rises above Chyhyryn, there are the remains of the Doroshenko’s bastion, a majestic monument to Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, a stone cross in honour of the Middle Ages defenders of the town. A wonderful panoramic view of the town of Chyhyryn and its surroundings opens up from Mount Zamkova.

The Bohdan Khmelnytsky Museum has collected over two thousand exhibits, including a unique archaeological collection of 17th century items, Cossack weapons and equipment.

Each of the five museums has its own unique exposition, which is worth visiting.

Economy

The economy of the community is formed by agriculture and manufacturing industry.

The agricultural sector of the community specializes in the cultivation of grain and technical crops. Crop production dominates the sectoral structure of agriculture.

The manufacturing industry of the community is mainly represented by sewing and food processing.

Education

Quality secondary education is an important priority for the community. The network of educational and cultural institutions in the community includes 15 educational institutions: 9 schools, 4 preschool education institutions, 2 out-of-school education institutions: a children’s and youth creativity centre and a children’s and youth sports school.

In addition, there is an inclusive resource centre. In 2021, the IRC was awarded a diploma and a silver medal in the category: Modern Inclusive Education: Best Practices, Development and Training of Personnel.

The Centre closely cooperates with teaching staff, parents and the public.

Last year, a felt studio My warm WORLD was opened for children with special educational needs and children with disabilities. Also, the construction of an inclusive playground KidsLand was started.

Sports

On the territory of the community, there is a children’s and youth sports school, which has boxing, volleyball, football, basketball, fitness and judo classes.

Three pupils of the Chyhyryn children’s and youth sports school – Illya Kozubenko, Rostyslav Kovalyov and Vladyslav Zakharchenko – are taking part In the U-19 Youth Team Championship.

The girls’ team of the Chyhyryn children’s and youth sports school, coached by Lyudmyla Zakharchenko, show good results in volleyball competitions of various levels among girls born in 2006 and junior teams of the 2022-2023 season.

There is the Kolos stadium in the town which has a 120×70 meter football field, tennis volleyball, and basketball courts, children’s playground and training ground. The administrative building has a gym and judo, cross-fit and table tennis halls.

Culture

Chyhyryn is proud of numerous amateur artistic groups which pass down folk vocal and instrumental traditions from generation to generation. More than 12 ensembles have been granted high state awards. Among them, the instrumental ensemble of the House of Culture branch in the village of Tinky and the Rodyna vocal ensemble of the House of Culture branch in the village of Trushivtsi.

Community and War

Since February 24, 2022, the Chyhyryn urban territorial community has become a transit point for more than 15,000 people who left the war zone. Currently, 2,511 internally displaced persons live in the community, including 700 children.

To meet the needs of internally displaced persons and defenders, volunteer centres were activated in the community population centres where aid – clothes, shoes, food, and basic necessities – was collected and distributed. Local public organizations, volunteers, entrepreneurs, religious organizations and residents of the community, as well as employees of executive bodies of the town council, starosta bodies, educational and cultural institutions also provide active assistance.

Organization of food supply for internally displaced persons together with international humanitarian organizations. Source: photos provided by the community

Since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chyhyryn community has been constantly working to support the military. As part of the joint efforts, a significant amount of meat and fish was processed into canned food, which was sent to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to the affected communities and for IDPs.

On the basis of cultural and educational institutions, workers, youth, children and caring residents are engaged in weaving camouflage suits, camouflage nets, making trench candles and various goodies for the soldiers who defend our country in hot spots.

Amateurs of the Centre for Culture, Leisure and Sports of the Chyhyryn Town Council held charity concerts and fairs in the community under the slogan Ukraine Will Win! The funds collected at the concerts were used to purchase equipment for our soldiers defending Ukraine.

Mayor

A Strategic Vision of the Future

In the future, the community plans to continue to attract investments for the development of its area, support ideas and projects involving the development of tourist infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises, and farms, the energy modernization of social infrastructure facilities and the introduction of energy-saving technologies.

An important place in the community is given to the development of education, culture, youth, sports and provision of quality leisure time for children and youth.

A stele was installed at the entrance to the town as a sign of establishing partnership relations with the city of Sebastopol (USA). Photo provided by the community.

List of Sources

The Development Strategy of the Chyhyryn Urban Territorial Community until 2026

Official website of the Chyhyryn Town Council

Official page of the Chyhyryn Urban Territorial Community on Facebook