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Bashtanka community
Mykolaiv
Population:
Population – 21,940
Women – 6,151
Men – 5,559
Children under 18 – 6,444
Retired – 3,786
People with disabilities – 415
Internally displaced persons – 1,574
History
Bashtanka is situated at the intersection of roads, near the Inhul river, in the middle of Ukrainian grasslands.
History of Bashtanka (Poltavka before 1928) starts in 1806 when the emperor’s government relocated people from Poltava and Chernihiv provinces to the crown lands – the territory of contemporary municipality. In the years of Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1921, Bashtanka became the epicentre of anti-Denikin peasant revolt, when Bashtanka republic was created at the initiative of the Ukrainian leftists. During two months of its existence, Bashtanka insurgents engaged in an unequal battle against the Russian White Guard.
At the intersection of roads
Bashtanka municipality is an important transport node. The national H-11 Dnipro – Mykolaiv highway runs right through it, connecting the country’s north and south. The highway is of particular importance for cargo transportation to and from seaports in Mykolaiv and Odesa.
Economy
Bashtanka’s cheese factory has always provided a major source of local revenues, being a strong leader in the Ukrainian diary market with the reputation of a business that delivers high-quality products. Bashtanka cheese is found on the shelves of all major retail chains across Ukraine, and is also exported to many countries, including the U.S. and OAE. Today, the factory has halted its operation because of hostilities.
Agrarian sector
The municipality’s agrarian sector focuses on cultivation of grain and industrial crops and also strives to develop horticulture and processing. Zoria Inhulu, additional liability company, is one of the largest horticulture enterprises not only in Mykolaiv oblast, but also in the entire southern Ukraine.
To foster development, the municipality plans to create an industrial park and has currently envisaged 471 hectares of land for investors.
Tourism
The municipality looks to tourism as a potential new stimulus for local economic development. Therefore, it plans to develop new tourist routes and unique cultural products to attract tourists. One successful example of such efforts is the “Chupakabra” bikers’ fest that takes place in the Chrystophoriv forest. The programme includes not only the opportunity to rest in the countryside, but also the trip to the burial mound, sunset observation, guitar concert around fire, historical tour, relay race “Enduro-trophy”, moto-contests, arm-wrestling competition, and many other activities.
Varenyky-FEST is another local attraction with lots of entertainment, varenyky-making masterclasses, contests, and festivities. Local teachers and students also actively contribute to all preparations for the festival.
Sport
Bashtanka has good potential for the development of sport. Before the war, it had the ambition to expand the scale of various sports events and raise sone kinds of sport to a new level. To do the groundwork, the municipality had been putting efforts into ramping up its sports infrastructure, in particular though renovation of the local sports centre and construction of a swimming pool. The municipality had a plan to create a ‘school for future champions’ together with a medical rehabilitation centre.
The community sports infrastructure was heavily destroyed by Russian occupiers.
Community and war
Bashtanka community together with the Ukrainian Army and local defence forces literally raised a shield against the onslaught of the Russian occupation troops and prevented their advance in central Ukraine by stopping the convoy of more than 800 military vehicles moving towards Dnipropetrovsk oblast, in particular Kryvy Rih.
Local farmers armed with Molotov cocktails wrestled from the occupiers and burned the Pantsir-S, a self-propelled air defence and missile system worth $15 ml., and three Pantsir systems.
Having stopped the Russian military convoy, the community was subject to relentless shelling and strikes from Grad and Smerch systems as well as aerial bombardment. More than 170 private homes, a shopping mall and employment centre were destroyed. The community remained without electricity, communication, and food supplies for more than 2 weeks.
Recovery after occupation
Today, the community is gradually recovering after occupation and is serving as an important humanitarian hub that provides relief to people who have fled occupied territories.
A humanitarian task force was set up at the local council to deal with logistical matters, distribution and handing out of humanitarian aid. It also helps residents alleviate the effects of heavy fighting. The task force works closely with charities and volunteer organizations.
Assistance is provided on a daily basis to local residents and displaced persons.
Mayor
Oleksandr Berehovyi was elected as mayor of Bashtanka community in 2020. Before his election, Oleksandr had a retail business and was active as a volunteer. In 2015-2017, he chaired the Volunteers’ Council at the rayon admini
Vision for the future
Looking beyond the end of the war and initial recovery, the community plans to foster development based on improved investment climate and promotion of tourism. An important step to this end would be to attract investors for construction of a hotel in Bashtanka.
Another goal is to restore the local sports centre with a swimming pool destroyed by airstrikes and then work on implementing ambitious plans for the development sport.
Vision for the future
Looking beyond the end of the war and initial recovery, the community plans to foster development based on improved investment climate and promotion of tourism. An important step to this end would be to attract investors for construction of a hotel in Bashtanka.
Another goal is to restore the local sports centre with a swimming pool destroyed by airstrikes and then work on implementing ambitious plans for the development sport.
Partner cities
Solec Kujawsk (Poland)