Berezan Territorial Community

History

The first written mention of Berezan is found in the lustration of the Pereyaslav Starosta-Headed District of the Kyiv Voivodship in 1616. In the lustration of 1620, it is indicated that the towns of the Pereyaslav Starosta-Headed District manufacture saltpetre, supposedly bringing high revenues annually.

According to the main version, the name of Berezan comes from the name of the Berezanka River, which flows into the Nedra near the town. Birch forests grew along the banks of the Berezanka River, which could also give the town its name. The oldest building in the town is the brewery of landowner Kansky.

While visiting Berezan, world-famous poet Taras Shevchenko wrote his work “Looted Grave”.

The Community is rich in talented and creative people who write poems and fairy tales for children. Famous aircraft designer Dorodnitsyn was born there.

Economy and Welfare

Today, enterprises with foreign investments have been working stably in the Community with a surface area of more than 210 square kilometres for more than 15 years.

In addition, the following entities are being developed in the Community: the Industrial Park “Town of Glass” (China-Ukraine) – a sheet glass factory, a solar panel substation (Ukraine) with a capacity of 7.7 MW, and Greta D’oro (Greece) – a sheep farm and a dairy factory producing Greek Yogurt products and 18 types of cheese, the main of which is FETA;

Ukrainian Dairy Company also operates in the territory of the Community as well as Murray Gray breeding 1,800 bulls annually.

The highlight of the town is the Berezan Cloth Factory, which manufactures VLADI products. Currently, VLADI is one of the largest producers of woollen plaid and blankets of the highest quality in Europe. The Berezan Cloth Factory is probably the most famous enterprise in the town, because it has existed for more than half a century, has survived many problematic moments, keeps operating, and is adapted to market conditions.

Sports are also actively developed in the Community.

The Berezan Community was one of the first to establish the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Recently, Berezan was visited by the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epiphanius, who laid and consecrated the cornerstone for the future temple of the holy great martyr Yuri the Victorious.

Community and War

Unfortunately, grief did not bypass the Community. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, about 1,200 people have been drafted into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, of which almost 60 died defending the country.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, no one in the Berezan Community has remained idle. Oleh Syvak, the Secretary of the Town Council, currently the acting Head of the Town Council, has never left the Community.

When the full-scale war broke out, checkpoints were organized, food security was successfully ensured, the town did not suffer from a shortage of basic necessities, the disadvantageous categories of the population were aided and provided with basic necessities as well. When there was not enough bread in the Community, this problem was successfully resolved with the help of small businesses.

First of all, educators set up a shelter for children. Despite the war, children must go to school. Parents and teaching staff of the Berezan Community organized a shelter.

A charity fair of home-made pastries was held at Berezan Lyceum No. 2. The funds raised at the fair were used to aid the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

People of the Community

In 2017, he founded and was the director of the enterprise “Berezan Komunservice”, where he built the “Safe Town” system – a video surveillance and security system for the town’s residents. On 02 August 2019, he became the secretary of the Berezan Town Council. He was also the first deputy of the Brovary Military Administration.

He currently acts as the Town Council Secretary and acting mayor. During his work, the main square of the town was modernized.

Landscaping is being developed in the Community: building facades are decorated, pedestrian paths are laid out, and market zoning has been carried out. They are also working to develop transport infrastructure: repairing roads and parking lots.

Hero of Ukraine Ihor Rozdobudko is among the residents of the Community who decided to defend the country. He joined the ATO forces as a volunteer in Donbas in the summer of 2014. Rozdobudko and his comrades have saved dozens of lives and possess a unique experience of providing aid to a wounded soldier with a minimum of medical supplies.

When the full-scale invasion began, Ihor returned to his fellow servicemen and continued to fight for his native land. Unfortunately, he was captured in Olenivka and was exchanged only in July 2023. After a long rehabilitation, he returned to the battlefield to defend the Motherland. Ihor Rozdobudko received an honorary award – Hero of Ukraine.

Another example of heroism is associated with Svitlana But, a teacher of Ukrainian Language and Literature. On September 1, when her students and colleagues attended the school bell event, Svitlana went to serve in the 77th Airborne Assault Brigade. During the first day of the war, Svitlana got very involved in the volunteer movement, she helped provide everything she could. Berezan Lyceum No. 4, where Svitlana But worked, organized meals for the Territorial Defence Unit.

Kateryna Pavlenko, the soloist of the Go-A band, should be mentioned as well.

On 22 February 2020, together with the Go_A band, she won the National Selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song “Nightingale”. And in 2021, she represented Ukraine at Eurovision 2021 with another song called “Noise”.

Development Strategy

Undoubtedly, the war changed the life and work of the Community. But the priorities of the Community continue to come first. It is important for the Community to provide quality and safe education for the future generation, to provide the local residents with qualified medical services, and to take care of the disadvantaged categories of the population. 

The Community works to create jobs and comfortable living conditions for the population.

An important goal is to preserve the psychological and mental health of the Community and not to forget about the priority areas. During blackouts, it is about an alternative type of energy. Also, the main area of the Community efforts is ecological restoration. The strategic tasks also include the restoration of the town’s water supply and sewerage, water filtration.

The town has a successful history of cooperation with Bela-Centre LLC, Poland, a company with foreign investments.

List of Sources

•   Towns and villages of Ukraine. Kyiv Region. Book One: edited by Bolhov V. and others. – K. 2009 – P. 20 
• Yaremchuk, Andrii. Berezan Favourite — Edited by Dara Chan / Andrii Yaremchuk // Ukrainian Culture. — 2008. — No. 7. — P. 1
• Ukrainsky Interes Newspaper
• Interview in the Radio Svoboda Newspaper dated 10 September 2017, Bohdana Kostiuk