This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Barashi Territorial Community
Zhytomyr
Population:
The Barashi Community is situated in Zviahel Raion, Zhytomyr Oblast.
Total area: 499.61 sq. km
Population: 6,507
Men: 2,990
Women: 3,517
Children: 1,329
Pensioners: 1,487
Internally displaced persons (IDPs): 245
The community comprises 35 villages and 1 town with an administrative centre in the village of Barashi.
History
The central part of the village of Barashi is the site of an ancient settlement that existed as early as the twelfth century. This is indicated by mound burials.
The first documentary mention of the village of Barashi dates back to 1566. Legends from the village’s old-timers and archival documents of the first half of the 17th century confirm the existence of a castle-fortress, Zamchyshche, which was built to protect against the Crimean Tatars. Barashi Castle was a private fortified structure built by the Ostroh princes, and after them it was owned by the Polish voivode Stanisław Lubomirski. In 1685, the Tatars destroyed the castle and the Barashi settlement.
The rich deposits of amazing white clay around the village and in neighbouring settlements prompted an enterprising merchant, Gersfeld, to build a porcelain and faience factory in 1854.
The Barashi Porcelain Factory ceased to exist in 1917 after a fire. Some of its products are now in the State Museum of Ukrainian Decorative Art.
In one of the villages of the community, there is an architectural monument – the wooden church of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva of Serbia, built in 1771.
As many as eight rivers originate on the territory of the Barashi Community. It is not surprising that there are many spring wells with water that has healing properties.
Economy and Welfare
The leading industry in the community is agriculture, which is mainly engaged in the cultivation of grain and industrial crops. In addition, forestry production, charcoal burning, and wood processing are being developed.
About 150 business entities operate in the community. There are 5 sawmills for wood processing and 3 charcoal burning enterprises.
There are mineral resources on the territory: amber, granite, clay, sand. There is an industrial granite quarry with a total area of about 7 hectares. Careers are not functioning yet.
The village of Yablunets is home to a modern agro-industrial company, Yablunets Grain Receiving Enterprise, which includes a certified elevator and a production complex.
The company’s core business is the production of sunflower (soybean) oil, sunflower (soybean) meal and alternative fuels in the form of sunflower husk pellets.
The company uses advanced processing facilities with modern equipment from Ukrainian and foreign manufacturers, which ensures high quality and productivity.
Industrial production has various loading lines, which allows products to be shipped by rail and road – in bulk, in big bags, containers and flexi-tanks. Thanks to its modern logistics systems and capabilities, it can deliver products to consumers throughout Ukraine and abroad.
The Barashi Lyceum has been operating in the field of education since 1872.
The Community and the War
The Barashi Community is located 70-80 kilometres from the border with Belarus. In February-March 2022, the occupying Russian troops came close to the community’s territory.
At the same time, in the early days of the war, many people from neighbouring and more distant territories that had fallen under Russian occupation came to the community. Some of these people returned home after the liberation of Kyiv and northern Zhytomyr areas, while others settled in the community.
In addition, during 2022-2024, residents of the occupied territories of Crimea, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Kherson Oblasts arrived in the community.
Throughout the war, the community members have been making camouflage nets and trench candles, which they regularly send to Ukrainian soldiers along with purchased military ammunition, technical equipment, medicines, clothing, and food.
Community People
Oleksandr Zinchenko has been the head of the community since 2020.
Oleksandr Zinchenko actively promotes the development of the region’s economy. In particular, during his leadership, he helped attract investment and open new industrial enterprises in the community. This allows us to create jobs for local residents, increase community budget revenues, and develop infrastructure.
Currently, he considers his main task to be organizing the community’s assistance to the Armed Forces.
12 Kamikaze FPV drones were purchased for the soldiers of the Barashi Community who are defending Ukraine. They were handed over to the residents of Barashi, Yablunets and Kamianka who are now on the front line. The funds for the drones were raised thanks to the support of philanthropists. This joint initiative has become an example of community unity in supporting its defenders.
The Head of the Community actively promotes sports and safety in the region. In January 2025, he signed a trilateral memorandum with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the Zhytomyr Oblast Military Administration on the introduction of a club sports system in the community. This will help attract people to physical fitness activities and develop sports clubs.
Thanks to the initiative and active cooperation of the Head of the Barashi Community with international organizations, the community residents received 16 new wheelchairs. This assistance was made possible thanks to cooperation with representatives of the Rotary Club of District 7670 from North Carolina (USA) and the support of the Drevliany Charitable Foundation.
The wheelchairs were donated to community outpatient clinics and local residents in need. This project was the result of the community head’s persistent efforts to improve the living conditions of residents and strengthen international relations.
A modern police station was opened to ensure security in the community.
Nina Matvienko, People’s Artist of Ukraine, was born in the village of Nedilyshche, Barashi Community. Nina recalled that her mother had a wonderful voice, and from her she got a love for folk songs. The artist has toured to great success in Mexico, Canada, the USA, the Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Korea, France, and Latin America.
Development Strategy
In general, the strategic development of the Barashi Community is based on a comprehensive approach covering education, economy, culture and international cooperation aimed at improving the quality of life of residents and sustainable development of the region.
The main priorities of the community development include the development of small and medium-sized businesses, energy efficiency and implementation of energy-saving measures, creation of a safe environment, ensuring environmentally balanced use of natural resources, development of transport infrastructure and tourism.
We carried out thermal modernization of the Barashi Lyceum and reconstructed the lyceum’s boiler house, which now heats 3 public institutions. All street lighting lamps have been replaced with energy-saving LED lamps.
The community strives to raise active and conscious citizens, so the provision of quality educational services, youth support, and quality leisure activities are topical issues.
To attract young people to physical education and sports, the community plans to establish a sports club called Kolos, the first in Zhytomyr Oblast.