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KelmentsiTerritorial Community
Chernivtsi
Population:
The Kelmentsi Settlement Territorial Community is located in the Dnistrovskyi district of Chernivtsi region.
The total area of the territorial community is 546.3 km2
The population is 32,058 people, including:
Men: 13,712 (42,78%);
Women: 18,346 (57,22%).
Children: 7,059.
Retired people: 9,205.
Internally displaced persons: 3,426.
The community consists of 26 population centres. The administrative centre is located in Kelmentsi. It borders the Republic of Moldova in the south. The distance to Chernivtsi is 106 km.
History
Kelmentsi has been an urban-type settlement since 1959, the centre of the Kelmentsi district since 1940, and the centre of the Dnistrovskyi district since 2020.
Numerous archaeological finds evidence that the Kelmentsi lands were inhabited in the Copper and Stone Age (Eneolithic) in the 4th-3rd millennia BC. There is a settlement of the Lukashiv culture (2nd-1st centuries BC) in the eastern part of Kelmentsi, on the left bank of the Potok, in the Mohyla tract. The remains of the Cherniakhivska culture (2nd-6th centuries AD) were found in the centre of Kelmentsi, and the remnants of the 14th-15th century – on the southern hillsides of the Potok.
The findings of Roman imperial coins of the 1st-3rd centuries AD indicate the connections of the former population with the Roman villages in the Northern Black Sea area.
In the 12th – first half of the 14th century, the territory of modern Kelmentsi was part of Kyivan Rus and the Galician-Volyn Principality. From the mid-14th century, it became part of the Moldavian principality as part of the Khotyn volost.
The village was first mentioned in documents in 1559 under the name Kelmentsy. Its name changed several times. In 1642 it was called Kelmeshty, and in 1817 – Kelmentsei.
The development of capitalist relations led to the creation of enterprises engaged in agricultural raw materials initial processing. In 1897, an oil mill, a windmill, a horse mill, and a water mill were already operating in Kelmentsi. Crafts and handicraft production were developing. People in Kelmentsi made carpets, cloth, and linen, barrels, carts, and baskets.
The St. Michael’s Church was built in Kelmentsi in 1894. It is an architectural monument. There is only one record about its foundation: the church was founded in 1894 and named in honour of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael.
The Kelmentsi population suffered a lot during the First World War, although there were no battles in the village.
During the Second World War, more than 630 Kelmentsi residents fought in the ranks of Red Army, 128 of them were killed. An obelisk monument was installed in their honour.
Kelmentsi was affected by the wave of famine in 1946-1947. About 180 people died then.
As a district centre, Kelmentsi began to develop rapidly during the Soviet era. At that time, industrial enterprises were established here. Among the largest of them were butter factory, regional consumer goods factory, food processing plant, building materials factory, corn and calibration plant, and others. The population was growing.
After Ukraine gained independence, Kelmentsi turned into a border district centre. That is why, a customs office was established in 1992, covering the territory of 184 km.
The years of 1982-1992 were a period of socio-cultural development of the territorial community. Within 10 years, practically new Kelmentsi was built.
After the unification of territorial communities was completed in 2020, the Kelmentsi Settlement Territorial Community incorporated 26 population centres.
Economy and Welfare
The industrial potential of the Kelmentsi settlement territorial community is generated by 5 enterprises. The largest taxpayer is a rubble quarry that produces different rubble products.
Other enterprises engage in the production of soybean oil, soybean oil-cake, and non-woven and carpet products. The Kelmentsi printing house produces school and stationery products from paper and cardboard. There is also a company that produces sawmill materials and wood products.
Russian military aggression and the imposition of martial law significantly affected the industrial enterprises in 2022. Actually, the companies started their work considering the specific situation in the country at the end of the second quarter.
In 2022, agricultural companies worked in force majeure conditions inherent in martial law (limited fuel resources, fertilizer shortages, mobilization, etc.) and climate changes.
About 1,500 business entities function in the community today.
Within the framework of the relocation programme, the Community government invited enterprises that planned to move their facilities from the war zone (occupied zone) to safer areas. A list of available industrial premises of municipal and private ownership for relocated enterprises (more than 50 items) has been created.
Community and War
About 3,400 internally displaced persons moved to the community because of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. A humanitarian hub has been set up to distribute humanitarian aid. Psychological and social assistance is provided to people moving from the east of Ukraine.
Lieutenant Valentyn Koval, a resident of the Kelmentsi community, was awarded the 3rd grade Order for Personal Courage for his personal courage and selfless actions in the defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the inviolacy of an oath.
The Kelmentsi community has lost 22 of its defenders since the beginning of the Russian military aggression.
People of the Community
Kelmentsi is the community of people whose prosperity is the main focus of the team led by Territorial Community Head Bohdan Oliynyk. As a true leader, he is personally responsible for every decision and every step of their work.
The war made significant changes to the life of both Ukraine at large and the Kelmentsi Settlement Territorial Community in particular.
Under the leadership of Bohdan Oliynyk, the following goals were achieved in 2022, taking into account all opportunities and risks:
– road repairs were completed;
– the 1st stage of the overhaul of the Kelmentsi central square was finished;
– an oxygen station was commissioned at the local hospital;
– the network of water supply and sewerage users in Kelmentsi is expanding;
– the humanitarian aid centre was opened to provide internally displaced persons and needy people with necessary food, clothing, etc.
Development Strategy
The following activities and tasks are planned to be conducted as a priority:
- Building/reconstruction of water supply networks.
- Construction/reconstruction of street lighting in population centres where it is absent or requires improvement.
- Overhaul/repair of the community’s roads.
- Installation of security cameras in the community’s population centres.
- Switching the community’s educational institutions to the alternative energy sources.
- Creation of an industrial park.
- Development of green tourism.
- Creation of conditions favourable for attracting investments in animal husbandry and agricultural processing.
- Development and support of small and medium-size enterprises.
- Improvement of the ecological condition and pollution prevention in the community.
- Development of social infrastructure.
List of Sources
- The Community’s website
- Facebook page