Boromlya community

The name of the community comes from the name of the river, surrounded by dense forests, always in darkness and twilight.

In 1658 Boromlya was first mentioned as a Cossack settlement headed by local cossack leader Korniy Vasylyev.

Boromya, strawberry growers community

Alongside the traditional agriculture, the residents of Boromlya have been growing strawberries here for almost 170 years. It began in the XIX century, when a local peasant Skrynka accidentally obtained strawberry seedlings in one of the monasteries.

Gradually, the whole village began to grow strawberries.

Since 1908, the community has been holding special strawberry exhibitions.

Historical legacy

The Church of the Exaltation of the Cross is the only functioning temple in the community. The first mention of it dates back to 1696-1725. During the Soviet era, the Orthodox Church was completely banned and the church was closed. At those times the temple was used as a granary. But the local residents managed to preserve the temple and its sacred shrines from destruction.

Community and the war

The community was in the zone of active hostilities for over a month. The center of the village was smashed by air bombs and artillery shellings of the enemy.

The Russians set up their barracks in the village Culture and Sport Club Center. Blankets, warm clothes, stoves, and everything else the invaders used there was stolen from the local residents.

After the deoccupation, civilians, tortured and murdered  by Russians, were found in the community blindfolded and with their hands tied.

Igor, a resident of the village of Boromlya, who survived the tortures shares his memories:

Kindergarten

Since 2015, the community’s kindergarten has been under repair and renovation. Water supply was provided,  energy-saving windows were installed, a boiler house was built and heating was completely renovated. In 2023 it was going to accommodate 100 young village residents. But the Russian occupiers hindered this. As a result of a missile hit, the building was completely destroyed.

Village school

In February 2022, about 300 children attended the village school. Renovated premises, with modern physics and chemistry classrooms were cozy and bright. The children often said their school provided many opportunities. But the war changed everything. The building came under artillery fire. Broken windows, cracked walls and looted computer classrooms are what the Russians left to village students.

Local governance

The head of the community Vasyl Romanika, a 65-year-old local resident, has been leading the community for 4 convocations.

The village head was in the village throughout the occupation. The village council was totally looted by the Russian invaders. 

“The devastation is terrible, and what a village it was! The invaders who came here praised the community for being a beautiful small town. And then what they did… Anger takes me over, when I think of it.”, 

community head Vasyl Romanika says.

The community  future

Boromlya community strives to become a strawberry production center of Sumy region, and a community of well-educated and active people.

One of Boromlya’s strategic goals is integrated development of the community. Therefore, small and medium-sized businesses and local services are being supported here.

Sources

● official website of Boromlya village council 

● Suspilne. media

● Wikipedia

● sts. Sumy. ua

● Sumy Today

● Regional weekly newspaper “The week”

● Interviews with representatives of the community