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Bilopillia Territorial Community
Sumy
Population:
The Bilopillia urban territorial community is located in the Sumy district, Sumy region.
The total area of the territory is 534 km2.
The population of the community is 190,89 people.
Women: 10,169.
Men: 8,920.
IDPs: 2,550.
It includes 54 population centers and has its administrative center in the town of Bilopillia.
History
The roots of Bilopillia go back centuries. A settlement of the Chernyakhiv culture of the 2nd–6th centuries was discovered on the territory of the community. During the time of Kyivan Rus, the fortified town of Vyr arose here, which was first mentioned in the Teachings of Volodymyr Monomakh (1113).
After the Mongol-Tatar invasion in 1239, the town was destroyed, but in the middle of the 16th century these lands began to be settled again. According to legend, the ancient town of Vyr was fortified with a system of fortifications with numerous underground passages, which, according to legend, stretched all the way to Putyvl. Traces of these structures are still preserved: from time to time, several-meter-wide ravines appear on the territory.
At a certain period, the lands of Vyr were assigned to the Putivl Principality, but the town declined and turned into a small settlement of Kryha. The second period of its history began with the establishment of Moscow military guard posts on Vyr hillfort. It was here that the Cossack town of Kryha arose with a fortress to protect against Tatar raids.
Over time, Cossack hamlets began to appear in the surrounding lands, and settlers from Podillia gave the population center a new name – Bilopillia. 1672 is considered the year of the founding of the modern town, where the Cossacks lived.
After the abolition of the regimental system in 1765, Bilopillia gradually lost its military significance. The town became an administrative center.
There were once eight churches in Bilopilla, six of which were destroyed by the Soviet authorities. Today, only two remain.
The Peter and Paul Church, founded in 1670–1672, has Cossack roots and a long history. The wooden church was rebuilt in its place in 1798, and later a modern brick building was erected. In the 1930s, the church was closed, the bells were destroyed, and the building was used as a warehouse. During World War II, the church was restored, and it is still in operation today.
The Archangel Michael Church was built in 1912 on the site of a wooden church that was dismantled after the completion of the new construction. The brick building is an architectural monument and one of the few historical shrines that have survived in Bilopilla.
Bilopillia preserves the memory of its heroic past, and even today its spirit lives on in stories and legends that attract researchers and tourists.
Economy and Welfare
The Bilopillia community has significant economic potential due to its natural resources, favorable geographical location, and farming traditions. Agriculture is a key industry that forms the basis of the local economy.
The Bilopillia community is an agricultural center, on the territory of which more than 50 agricultural enterprises operate. Among the largest are LLC “Bilopillia Agro” and LLC “Bilopillia Agrosvit “, which are part of the Agroprosperis group.
An important area of the local economy is the storage and processing of grain, which is provided by LLC “Bilopillia Elevator” and LLC “BK Megapolis”.
The community has a developed infrastructure: a network of roads, shops and public catering establishments, as well as vacant land for industrial use. There are deposits of clay, which was previously used in the production of bricks.
Community and War
On February 22, 2022, the Bilopillia community met a full-scale war ready to act. The Town Council did not stop working and created a Humanitarian Headquarters to ensure the security and life of the community. Residents rallied around the NGO “Municipal Guard”, organized groups for night duty, maintained law and order, and monitored the border situation.
Despite constant artillery shelling, airstrikes, and other fire damage, the community is holding on. More than 2,400 damaged assets have already been recorded, including the destruction of schools, cultural centers, residential buildings, and other infrastructure. However, the volunteer center has been operating since the first days of the war, continuing to assist the Armed Forces of Ukraine and support residents.
The Town Council, together with communal enterprises and entrepreneurs, is rallying and doing everything to ensure that residents have food, utilities, and essential goods, despite the proximity of the enemy. Daily shelling destroys infrastructure, but the indomitable spirit of the community remains its greatest strength.
Cultural workers actively participated in volunteer activities, wove camouflage nets, organized collections of food and medicine for the defenders. The community continues to work to restore and support its population, believing in victory and reconstruction.
Community People
Mayor Yuriy Zarko launched a new stage of development of the Bilopillia community, which allowed it to overcome a period of decline.
On his initiative, large-scale infrastructure reconstruction work was carried out in the town: construction and repair of roads, water supply networks, sidewalks, sports fields, as well as landscaping of the territory – a new park and alleys were created.
Particular attention was paid to energy efficiency initiatives, such as switching to renewable energy sources for heat production, which reduced dependence on natural gas, and installing solar street lighting. In addition, the community actively attracted investors to the utility sector, which positively affected the development of the local economy.
Before the war, the Bilopillia area had a rich cultural life: holidays, song contests, poetry readings, and theatrical town and village days were held, where local residents and guests from different parts of Ukraine gathered for celebrations.
It is worth mentioning the historical reenactment festival “Vyrskyi Hrad”, which was held annually on the site of the ancient Rus fortress of Vyr and became a popular national event, attracting participants from all over Ukraine. All these events became an important part of the cultural life of the community, strengthening its identity and unity.
Development Strategy
After the war, the Bilopillia community plans to begin large-scale reconstruction and development work. The main priorities will be to restore the destroyed infrastructure, improve the quality of life of residents, and create conditions for sustainable economic growth.
The community strives to become a model of environmental friendliness and technological innovation, creating an investment-attractive territory. The priority is to attract strategic investors in agriculture, manufacturing industry, product processing and green energy. Special attention will be paid to the development of renewable energy sources, in particular the construction of solar and wind power plants, as well as the production of energy from biomass.
One of the key areas will be the development of the agricultural sector. The community plans to modernize agricultural production, develop product processing, introduce innovative technologies, and increase export potential. This will create new jobs and increase revenues to the local budget.
Special emphasis will also be placed on the restoration of social infrastructure: schools, hospitals, cultural institutions, sports facilities. It is planned to build modern residential complexes for residents who lost their homes and create conditions for the return of internally displaced persons.
In the cultural sphere, the community intends to revive traditional festivals, competitions, and art events that were popular before the war. This will not only help preserve the cultural heritage, but also increase the tourist appeal of the region.
The Bilopillia area will continue to work to ensure a comfortable life for its residents, using modern technologies to provide administrative services, develop transport infrastructure, and improve the environmental situation.
The post-war community development strategy involves the close collaboration of local authorities, entrepreneurs and residents. Together, they strive to restore and develop their territory, making it peaceful, safe and comfortable to live in. The main goal is to build a strong community that will become an example of resilience, progress, and revival.