Arbuzynska Territorial Community

History

The territory of Arbuzin region is rich, unique, and full of events. The witnesses of historical antiquity are the mounds that distinguish the local landscapes with islands of grass-covered mounds.
During the time of Kyivan Rus (X-XIII centuries), the border between Rus and the Khazar Khaganate passed along the border of the Southern Bug and Synyukha rivers, and Arbuzin region belonged to the Khazars. From the XIV to the XVI century, the territory of Arbuzin region belonged to the so-called “Wild Field”, the Milky Way ran through the territory, along which Cossacks, Chumaks, and fugitive serfs moved south.

The “Arbuzinka” river flows through the middle of the village, according to the legends of the residents, during the times of the Cossacks, a Cossack named Garbuz lived in this region. Hence, the river began to be called Garbuzinka, and from it the village. Indeed, back in the 1950s, Arbuzinka had this name. According to another legend, in the distant past there was a large market on the territory of the modern village, where pumpkins were sold. This could have been the origin of the name.

Along the banks of the river there are numerous granite outcrops and picturesque tracts. There are several abandoned granite quarries nearby.

At the confluence of the Garbuzinka River and the Mertvovod River, there is a protected tract called Trikratskyi Forest.

In 2020, Arbuzinka celebrated its 240th anniversary.

Economy and welfare

On the territory covered by the community, 132 legal entities, 209 individuals – entrepreneurs, 36 institutions are registered. Agriculture occupies the largest share in production. In the sectoral structure of agriculture, crop production occupies the main part. The main budget-forming enterprises engaged in grain cultivation, as well as animal husbandry, include – “Vira”, “Polyanka”, “Larine”, “Agrofirma “Visla”, “Agronomiya”.

Trade services are provided by 80 functioning retail outlets, including: 60 shops, 5 pharmacies, 5 post offices.
Services for sewing and repairing clothes, repairing shoes, funeral services, and municipal services (water supply, sewage, garbage collection) are provided.
The education sector works effectively in the Arbuzyn community, for which the largest part of the funds are allocated from the community budget. There are 5 secondary education institutions, 5 preschool education institutions, 2 extracurricular education institutions (children’s music school, schoolchildren’s creativity house) in the community.

Much attention is paid to children with special educational and physical needs, who receive psychological, pedagogical and correctional services at the center for social rehabilitation of disabled children. Specialists of various profiles work with children, whose task is to help each child integrate into society. All classes are held taking into account a special approach to each child.

In each settlement of the community, social and pedagogical services for the elderly have been introduced – “University of the Third Age”, 409 people have been involved.

Community and War

One of the important issues is supporting people who were forced to leave their permanent place of residence.
As of 01.12.2024, 671 people were registered in the community. A point of reception and distribution of humanitarian aid has been created for IDPs, pensioners, people with disabilities, large families, members of military families, and people who found themselves in difficult life circumstances.

The Arbuzyn community cooperates with international and national organizations to provide humanitarian aid to the population.
Thanks to the participation of the Arbuzyn Village Council in the USAID project “Improving the Efficiency and Accountability of Local Government Bodies” (“Hoverla”), the village council received 5 generators, thanks to which the population will be provided with water during power outages.

The Alley of Glory of the Arbuzyn settlement territorial community was created to honor the memory of the fallen (deceased) participants of the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine, the Joint Forces operation, during the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Community People

Arbuzynskyi village head Yevheniy Travianko was first elected to the position of village head in 2014. Since then, he has been re-elected to the position of village head twice. He has been a permanent village head since the creation of the Arbuzynskyi United Territorial Community.

Thanks to the direct participation and cooperation of the village head with international donors, in 2023, the shelter and protective windows were repaired with anti-fragmentation film in the kindergarten “Prolisok” in the village of Arbuzynka.

Within the framework of a joint project of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the European Union. A new construction of a dual-purpose protective structure has begun in the village of Arbuzynka (Arbuzynskyi Lyceum No. 2 named after T. G. Shevchenko). In 2024, the reconstruction of the catering unit in the Arbuzynskyi Lyceum No. 2 began.

Charity fairs are systematically held in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Development Strategy

The effectiveness of the Arbuzyn community is based on strategic planning.

The main tasks of local authorities are:

• repair and maintenance of municipal roads in good condition;
• creation of favorable conditions for economic development in the community;
• improvement of living conditions for residents in the community;
• ensuring the provision of high-quality services to residents;
• purchase of a specialized vehicle for transporting food to educational institutions;
• implementation of innovative energy-efficient measures based on renewable energy sources (solar energy);
• purchase of special equipment for servicing the municipal infrastructure of the Arbuzyn territorial community;
• purchase of a garbage truck for collecting and removing solid waste from the settlements of the territorial community;
• collective gardening;
• major repairs of the park in the village of Arbuzynka.

Sources

• Official website of the Arbuzyn Village Council [email protected]; archive photos of the Arbuzyn AH; the Internet.