Askania-Nova Territorial Community

History

Askania-Nova territorial community is located in the lowland steppe zone, which stretches along the northern coast of the Black and Azov Seas.
The territory of the community was inhabited in ancient times. Copper jewelry of the Late Bronze Age was found there. The burial of a nomad with a horse, several stone women of the 11th-13th centuries AD were discovered.

At the end of the 18th century. the settlement of the southern regions of Ukraine began. In 1828, the German Duke of Anhalt-Köthen purchased land in the area of ​​present-day Askania-Nova for next to nothing. After 13 years, a farm grew up in the steppe near the settlement, which the Duke named after his estate Askania in Germany – Askania-Nova. There he began to breed Merino sheep. In 1834, his herd numbered 24 thousand. However, over time, the farm declined, and eventually its owner leased Askania-Nova, and later sold the estate, more than 49 thousand sheep, 640 horses, 549 cattle and 297 goats to another colonist – Fein. The new owner skillfully managed the farm and became rich, breeding Merino sheep, the wool of which was very valuable on the Western European market.

The botanical park is also of great value. Initially, 70 hectares of steppe were allocated for the park. An arboretum was laid out on 27 hectares, where 220 different species of trees and shrubs were planted, from Asia, Southern Europe, North America, Australia, the Caucasus and other countries and continents.

At the end of the 19th century. a small museum was opened in Askania-Nova, where 250 stuffed birds and animals were collected, as well as a collection of eggs and an archaeological collection. In a short time, Askania-Nova became a widely known picturesque corner of nature in the arid steppe. This oasis of nature, created by the hardworking hands of people, attracted the attention of researchers.

Also on the territory of the community there is a protected steppe, a unique, priceless monument of nature. This land, untouched by man, reminds of the distant past. The virgin steppe of Askania-Nova is the only area of ​​feather grass-till steppe not only in the south of the country, but also in Europe. Wherever you look, steppe grasses delight the eye with their bloom, feather grass shimmers in waves.

Economy and welfare

The basis of the economy of the Askania-Nova community before the full-scale invasion was agriculture, which employed more than a dozen farms and individual peasant farms specializing in growing grains, vegetables, gardening and berries.

The State Enterprise Research Farm of the Institute of Animal Husbandry of Steppe Regions named after Mikhail Fedorovich Ivanov “Askania-Nova” and the State Enterprise “Research Farm “Askaniyskoe”, which specialized in mixed agriculture and growing grains and industrial crops, were also engaged in cattle breeding, as well as the Limited Liability Company “Mobile Mechanized Column No. 167”.

International companies were involved in the full-scale invasion of the community. For example, in 2019, the Chinese pharmaceutical company Shizhen Tang built special enclosures in the village of Komysh on 100 hectares of the Kherson steppe – with an electric shepherd, solar panels and video surveillance for the cultivation and breeding of saigas, which were purchased from the Falz-Fein Biosphere Reserve “Askania-Nova”.

The Falz-Fein Biosphere Reserve “Askania-Nova” is located on the territory of the community, which is a brand for the territorial community and contributes to the development of tourism.

The territorial community has a gymnasium with 3 branches, a school, 2 kindergartens, 7 cultural institutions, a music school, and a football academy.

Community residents actively supported traditions and participated in the celebration of national and state holidays, and held festivals to unite community residents.

Community and War

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the Askania-Nova settlement-territorial community has been under temporary occupation by Russian troops, which continues to this day.

Due to the full-scale invasion of the territory controlled by Ukraine, approximately 40% of the residents left, but this figure is constantly changing. Almost all enterprises have been stopped, business activity is reduced. Almost all enterprises and their facilities are under the control of the occupation troops.
From the first hours of the invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, the Falz-Fein Biosphere Reserve “Askania-Nova” has been in the zone of temporary occupation.

Since the beginning of the occupation, the collection of animals of “Askania-Nova” has been under threat. These are species listed in the regional protection list, the Red Book of Ukraine, the European Red List, and international environmental agreements. The occupiers also continue to remove rare animals from the Askania-Nova reserve and replace them with domestic ones.
There were two major fires in the Askania-Nova reserve. The first was caused by a downed missile. The second was caused by a lightning strike. About 7 thousand hectares burned in the Askania-Nova biosphere reserve.

We organized the work of the Kherson Citizens Assistance Center “FREE TOGETHER” in the city of Kropyvnytskyi. Thanks to these efforts, internally displaced persons from the Kherson region who temporarily live in the Kirovohrad region receive legal and psychological, as well as humanitarian assistance.

Community People

Since 2022, the Askania-Nova settlement territorial community has been headed by Dudar Ivan.

Under the leadership of Ivan Dudar, cooperation was established with international foundations and charitable organizations, and Memoranda of Cooperation were signed.

Active preparations are underway for the deoccupation of the territorial community, accumulating material and technical resources to restore the life of the community’s settlements.

Thus, from the United States Agency for International Development’s Decentralization Brings Better Results and Efficiency (DOBRE) Program, the Askania-Nova settlement territorial community received 3 generators and an excavator – loader that will be used at critical infrastructure facilities and social institutions to help respond to emergencies.

The Administrative Services Center has received a modern integrated energy storage and transmission system. This initiative was made possible thanks to the support of the American charitable organization DirectRelief in cooperation with the Yevhen Pivovarov Charitable Foundation, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Kherson Regional Military Administration.

Thanks to the new technology, the Center will be able to operate during power outages, supporting the operation of computer equipment and lighting. In addition, the system allows you to accumulate energy that will be used during power outages.

Development Strategy

The community has approved a strategy for 2017-2025.
Given the serious challenges faced by the community due to military aggression, the development strategy is aimed at comprehensive restoration and improvement of the viability of the territory.

The main areas of activity include the maximum elimination of negative consequences for the community caused by the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, restoration, stabilization and achievement of economic development, ensuring safe and decent living conditions, well-being of the population, restoration of critical infrastructure, utilities and the social sphere, creation of favorable conditions for community development, maintenance of a stable and satisfactory state of the environment.

After the deoccupation of the community, the priority tasks will be:

– rapid demining of territories;
– close cooperation between business and government;
– restoration of the agricultural sector and irrigation;
– creation of conditions for the development of small and medium-sized businesses;
– promotion of the improvement of the investment climate and the development of international cooperation;
– development of tourism potential;
– creation of conditions for the development and renewal of human capital;
– provision of high-quality and affordable services to socially vulnerable segments of the population;
– digitalization of public services, improvement of the system of administrative service provision;
– restoration of the road and transport complex;
– provision of the population with high-quality municipal services.

Sources

• facebook.com
• askaniya-nova-gromada.gov.u
• drive.google.com