Lozova Territorial Community

The community includes 91 population centres: 1 city of regional significance, 3 urban-type settlements, 6 settlements, 81 villages. The territory of the community is divided into 19 starosta-headed districts. The community has a favourable geographical position, as it is approximately equidistant from 4 regional population centres.

History

Lozova is situated within the boundaries of Slobozhanshchyna, a historical region of Ukraine. The city owes its creation to the railway, because it was after the Kursk-Kharkiv-Azov and Lozovo-Sevastopol railways came into operation in 1869 and 1872 that Lozova (then a village) appeared on the map.

When it came into operation, the railway connected the grain regions with the sea ports and contributed to the development of this area. Lozova became a point of grain purchase and shipment on the Left Bank. Trade warehouses, grain elevators, flour mills for processing agricultural products, offices, and banks began to spring up. The development of the village was connected, first of all, with a very successful location at the crossroads, in the centre of a large agricultural area.

The establishment of the city as a powerful industrial centre of the Kharkiv region was facilitated by the construction of the Lozova Forging and Mechanical Plant in the 1960s. It was the largest enterprise in terms of outputs and the number of employees which gave an impetus to the construction of a modern urban district of high-rise buildings – the South-West residential area with all the infrastructure required. Kindergartens, schools, the Palace of Culture, post offices were built and opened in parallel with the development of the LFMP.

The Lozova urban territorial community in its modern unified composition has existed since 2020.

Community’s Economy

The economy of the Lozova area is represented by the industrial sector, railway transport enterprises, construction organizations, motor transport and repair enterprises, and the extensive sphere of small and medium-sized businesses. In rural settlements, agriculture is the main focus.

There are 32 industrial enterprises operating in the community. The main enterprises are: Lozova Forging and Mechanical Plant, Panyutyn-based branch of the Car Repair Plant, Traktorodetal Plant

There are 329 agro-industrial complex entities operating in the community, including: 67 agricultural enterprises, 75 peasant farms, and 187 entrepreneurs who run personal peasant farms. Main types of activity: cultivation of marketable agricultural products (barley, wheat, peas, oats, rapeseed, sunflower), animal husbandry, poultry farming.

3,037 individual entrepreneurs are registered and active in the community. The main activities of entrepreneurs are trade, agriculture, household and food services, production, construction works, etc.

Social and Humanitarian Infrastructure of the Community

The community has a functional network of social institutions, in particular, a unique communal institution – Zhemchuzhynka Complex Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities, a rehabilitation institution in the field of social protection of the population aimed at implementing complex rehabilitation measures for children with disabilities, youth 18+ with disabilities, as well as children who are at risk of getting disability.

In general, the educational network of the Lozova community includes 2 higher education institutions, 1 vocational and technical education institution, 23 general education institutions, 17 preschool institutions, 2 out-of-school institutions, and 3 communal institutions.

Both primary and secondary care medicine is available in the community.

The sports industry is represented by a communal institution, Lozova Centre for Physical Health of the Population Sports for All, children’s and youth sports schools Yunist and Olympia. In general, social and sports activities are conducted by 9 sports clubs and 7 federations, which cover over 700 people. The community has its own football team.

An expanded network of cultural and educational institutions provides for the cultural and leisure needs of the community residents. Cultural activities are bright and diverse here.

Community and War

Since the full-scale Russian military invasion of Ukraine, the Lozova urban territorial community has not been on the contact line, but, unfortunately, has periodically been affected by rocket attacks. 

Since the beginning of the military aggression, the Lozova urban territorial community has been subjected to rocket attacks 25 times. As a result, 137 multi-apartment residential buildings, 239 individual residential buildings, 50 critical infrastructure facilities, and 52 social facilities were damaged. The Lozova City Palace of Culture, which was the centre of the cultural life of the city, and Lozova Lyceum No. 8 suffered the most critical destruction from a direct rocket hit.

Since the beginning of hostilities, the number of internally displaced persons officially registered in the Lozova territorial community has increased by 10,771 people and amounted to 12,571 (9,687 families). For the accommodation of displaced persons, 4 points of compact accommodation were organized, capable of accommodating more than 279 IDPs. Work has begun on the installation of 3 modular towns for IDPs. Support for the transit of IDPs is provided (over the period from March to September 2022, more than 40,000 internally displaced persons arrived in the community in transit and moved on to other cities).

A humanitarian logistics hub, 9 volunteer points and 2 humanitarian aid distribution points were organized in the community and are coordinated, humanitarian and charitable aid from international organizations and Ukrainian philanthropists is attracted.

Enemy attacks on the energy system of Ukraine led to permanent power outages of both civilian and infrastructure facilities.  

People of the Community 

Serhii Zelenskyi is a person with a vast professional and life experience, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Academician of the Engineering Academy of Ukraine, Honoured Worker of Agricultural Sector of Ukraine, and holder of more than 50 distinctions and awards of various kinds. Since the beginning of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, Serhii Zelenskyi has organized life support in the community, ensured the stable work of the communal sphere, negotiated humanitarian support for residents and internally displaced persons, monitored the safety and security situation in the community, ensured communication with residents in his daily addresses. On the initiative of the Mayor and with the support of local businesses and caring residents, humanitarian support was provided to other communities.

The war events in Ukraine changed the consciousness of all Ukrainians, including the residents of the community. People en masse began to weave camouflage nets, organize food for the military and for those who were forced to leave their homes, collected food and necessary items for the military and forced migrants. During this period, the volunteer movement actively began to develop in the community.

Development Strategy

An important priority for the community is establishing cooperation with foreign municipalities, in particular for:

1. the implementation of joint projects in the field of culture, education and sports, integration of IDPs, with the attraction of EU funds and training in working with European programmes and foundations;
2. the establishment of economic ties, including:
    – the attraction of investments and creation of an industrial park.
    – the exchange of experience of introducing new production technologies.
    – the expanding of the export potential of community enterprises.
3. the exchange of experience of improving utility services, rehabilitation of children with developmental disabilities.
4. humanitarian support of the community, in particular regarding:
    – the renovation of the Lozova City Palace of Culture;
    – the provision of enterprises of critical infrastructure and shelters with emergency power sources;
    – the provision of medical facilities with medical equipment;
    – the provision of educational institutions with computer equipment necessary for the organization of distance learning;

List of Sources

• Official website of the Lozova City Council
• Facebook page of the  Lozova urban territorial community
• Lozova urban territorial community in Wikipedia
• The City of Lozova in Wikipedia
• The Lozova Local History Museum
• YouTube channel about life in the Lozova community
• YouTube channel of Lozova television and radio broadcasting company