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Chupakhivka Territorial Community
Sumy
Population:
The Chupakhivka Community is located in Okhtyrka Raion, Sumy Oblast.
Total area: 273,551 sq km
Population: 4,332
Men: 1,788
Women: 1,978
Children: 566
Pensioners: 1,151
Internally displaced persons (IDPs): 150
The community consists of 1 town and 22 villages, with the administrative centre in Chupakhivka.
History
Chupakhivka was founded in the late 30s of the 17th century by immigrants from the Right Bank of Ukraine.
In 1851, a sugar factory was built in the village, and in 1870-1880 it was reconstructed, equipped with new equipment and turned into a large enterprise. In 1950, the plant processed 10,000 centners of sugar beet per day. In 2008, the factory was no longer in operation.
In 1925, a district hospital was opened in Chupakhivka, and the cultural face of the village gradually changed. Children studied in two primary and seven-year schools, and there were seven educational and cultural centres. A club and a library started operating, and the village had a postal and telegraph office, a telephone exchange, a veterinary and agricultural stations.
The Tashan River flows through the territory of the community. In the late 19th century, an artificial reservoir was created from its waters for the needs of a sugar factory. The ponds (divided by two dams) have survived to this day, where people fish and relax. An auto road also runs along the dam with a bridge, connecting Kharkiv, Okhtyrka, and Lebedyn.
Every year, the reservoir attracts incredibly beautiful and graceful swans.
In addition, the community is home to the Dukhovnychanski Oaks, a botanical natural monument.
A folklore and history room was created at the library. This corner is constantly updated and supplemented with various household items and crafts.
Economy and Welfare
More than 20 agricultural enterprises and farms operate in the community. The largest enterprise is the “Pioner” agricultural company, which grows cereals, legumes and oilseeds, and also breeds cattle and poultry. The company is also engaged in the wholesale trade of grain, unprocessed tobacco, seeds and animal feed, live animals, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, eggs, edible oils and fats.
In addition, the community helps to create conditions for the restoration of business from the frontline area.
There are 2 schools in the community, the Oleshnia Lyceum and the kindergarten.
The healthcare network includes a primary healthcare centre, an outpatient clinic, 3 paramedic and obstetric units and 2 paramedic stations.
The Community and the War
The Chupakhivka Community met the full-scale invasion with unity. Residents joined the volunteer movement. Village clubs and schools wove camouflage nets for the Ukrainian military. In addition, community centres became aid collection centres, where everyone brought whatever they could: food, warm clothes, and medicine. Even the youngest residents of the community drew postcards with words of support for the soldiers on the front line.
Hosting IDPs was a particular challenge. People fleeing from active hostilities found shelter in the Chupakhivka Community. They were provided not only with a roof over their heads, but also with warmth, care and assistance. Residents shared what they had to support those who had lost their homes.
The municipality actively engages charitable foundations and organisations that provide assistance to the population, with special attention paid to families in vulnerable categories (large families, low-income families, orphans) and internally displaced persons.
In addition, the community members regularly collect and deliver food and other essential items to the military.
Since the full-scale invasion, private houses have been destroyed in the community, and private businesses and the building of the Olenynske village club have been hit.
To date, the community has 23 fallen defenders. At the initiative of the community head and with the charitable assistance of local entrepreneurs, the Alley of Memory to the Fallen Defenders of the Chupakhivka Community was built.
Community People
Chupakhivka Community is headed by Oleksandr Kuzhel.
Under his leadership, the community is actively developing, paying attention to cultural life and education. Oleksandr Kuzhel participates in meetings and workshops aimed at improving the life of the community.
The Dobrobut utility company was established to modernise and develop centralised water supply, sewerage, power supply and street lighting systems in the community.
We received a bus from the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, because after a mortar attack by the Russian Federation, the Oleshnia Lyceum lost a bus that was used to bring children to the school.
The orphans and internally displaced children were presented with gadgets donated by the Olena Zelenska Foundation. The foundation works in three areas: education, humanitarian aid and healthcare, and only with foreign donors, meaning it does not use state budget funds, which are so necessary to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and state integrity.
The Chupakhivka Community is inhabited by amazing and talented people. Therefore, there are clubs in the community, based in the House of Culture, where all interested children can learn choreography, play musical instruments, and learn to sing. In addition to the clubs, there are folk groups that participate in various competitions.
Development Strategy
The community has approved an Economic and Social Development Programme for 2024-2026.
To implement the Programme, the protective structure of the radiation shelter was renovated in the kindergarten. As a result, the children were able to attend the kindergarten again.
The Oleshnia Lyceum also had its shelter renovated.
In addition, in 2024, the second building of the school was put into operation, allowing primary school students to study separately in comfortable conditions.
There are also unimplemented projects in the community that are currently important for the life of the community.
Reconstruction of the first building of the school. It is necessary to complete the basement to use it as a radiation shelter, with a superstructure for sports and recreation. The design and estimate documentation has already been prepared. Appropriate funding is needed to complete the project.
Currently, the educational institution does not have a shelter for protection during air raids and other hazards. This makes it impossible to organise the educational process in an offline format. The implementation of this project is a vital requirement for creating a safe educational environment, preserving the life and health of the participants in the educational process. The premises for sports and recreation will solve the urgent issue of meeting the requirements for creating a safe educational environment in terms of organising physical education lessons, sports events, active games, competitions, and educational activities.
We developed design and estimate documentation for the construction of a water supply system, as the residents of Chupakhivka are currently not provided with quality drinking water. In 2023, the construction of the water supply system began, with the completion date of 2023-2025. Appropriate funding is needed to complete the project.
Renovation of the municipal institution Chupakhivka Pre-School Education Institution (nursery – kindergarten) “Sonechko-1”, as it has been operating since 1984 and has never been renovated.
We developed design and estimate documentation for the renovation of the school’s canteen. The canteen was built and put into operation in 1982 and had never been renovated. The condition of the premises was maintained by ongoing cosmetic repairs. After the implementation of this project, the canteen will meet modern requirements, solve the problem of providing quality water, and ensure efficient use of energy resources and energy saving.
Construction of a multifunctional sports ground on the school grounds (design and estimate documentation was prepared in 2023).
Currently, the school’s sports ground looks outdated, the equipment is worn out and does not meet modern requirements. The project envisages the construction of mini-football fields, a wall tennis court, a sports ground and tracks.