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Dniprorudne Territorial Community
Zaporizhzhia
Population:
The Dniprorudne Territorial Community is located in the territory of the Vasylivka District of the Zaporizhzhia Region.
The total area of the Community amounts to 47.6 square kilometres.
The population of the Community totals 18,468 residents (before the Community was occupied).
Internally displaced persons: 5,158 people
The Community consists of three localities. The administrative centre of the Community is the town of Dniprorudne.
History
In ancient times, the territory where the Dniprorudne Community is located was inhabited by the tribes of Scythians, Sarmatians, Huns, Khazars, and Cumans. Later, this territory was called the Velyky Luh (Great Meadow) and became a symbol of the Ukrainian Cossacks.
The history of the town begins in the 20th century when geologists discovered a powerful deposit of iron ore in the Zaporizhzhia Region.
In 1961, the village of Druzhba was founded in order to develop the Pivdenno-Bilozersky iron ore deposit. There, they began to extract ore, unique in terms of its composition, which contains 68% of iron. This quality ore is mined only in Argentina and Brazil. Later, the locality was named Dniprohrad, and in 1964 it began to be named as we know it today – Dniprorudne.
The Velyky Luh National Nature Reserve is situated in the territory of the town: a wonderful area of nature where, before the full-scale invasion, one could escape to from the urban bustle, enjoy the fresh air and see the unique steppe landscapes, rare steppe plants, as well as various animals.
Ecological routes were arranged for visitors to the Reserve, making it possible to see the beauty and richness of the steppe nature.
The Reserve is also home to historical sites such as mounds of the Scythian era and the remains of Cossack settlements. The historical territory of the Velyky Luh was flooded by the waters of the Kakhovka Reservoir in 1955 – 1957, with the exception of some areas, which now constitute the territory of the National Nature Reserve.
As a consequence of the Kakhovka HPP being blown up by the invading russian troops on 06 June 2023, the Velyky Luh re-emerged.
The town has a unique museum of steppe stone sculpture “Sacred Heritage of the Steppes”, which exhibits the largest collection of ancient stone artefacts. There are more than sixty stone sculptures – “babas”, the highest pyramid made of millstones and a unique Turk baba, which drives compasses “mad”.
The symbol of the town, which represents its specialization, is the Monument to the First Ore located in one of the main streets of the town. This landmark is depicted on the coat of arms of Dniprorudne. The monument marked the day when the first wagonload of ore came to the surface on 26 August 1967.
Before the full-scale invasion, the town began to arrange recreation areas. The embankment was one of the best and most visited places for leisure activities, where one could admire the view of the Kakhovka Reservoir and find entertainment for both children and young people, as well as for adults. The Town Council build a skate park, a playground with simulators for sports, a children’s playground, fountains and comfortable places to sit there.
Economy and Welfare
The Dniprorudne Community is located on the fertile lands of the Zaporizhzhia Region, so wheat, barley, rapeseed, sunflower and other agricultural crops are grown there.
One of the largest enterprises in the mining and metallurgical industry of Ukraine – Zaporizhzhia Iron Ore Combine PJSC – operates 25 kilometres away from the town of Dniprorudne. The territory of the enterprise is 692 hectares.
The enterprise mined ore. About 60% of its products were supplied to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Austria, the rest being supplied to the domestic market. Over 50 years of operation, more than 172 million tons of iron ore have been mined there, while the local reserves of rich iron ores amount to one billion tons.
Control over the enterprise was lost in 2022 due to its occupation by russian troops. The russian invaders tried to relaunch the Zaporizhzhia Iron Ore Combine. Today, the invaders are transporting a large amount of ore to the territory of russia. Due to the possible termination of the plant’s operation, there remains a constant danger of contamination of surface water with iron.
Before the occupation, more than 300 commercial and service facilities operated in the town of Dniprorudne.
The network of general secondary education institutions of the Dniprorudne Urban Territorial Community includes institutions of preschool, after-school, general secondary and vocational engineering education, which meet the population’s need for quality educational services. These institutions have more than 20 classes with inclusive education.
Community and War
Since the beginning of March 2022, the entire territory of the Dniprorudne Community has been under russian occupation.
Trying to invade the town, russians faced resistance from the local population. The Dniprorudne residents did not want to see russian invaders in their town. After the russian troops entered the territory of the town, they kidnapped the mayor of the town, Yevhenii Matveev, whose fate is still unknown.
The life of the town largely depended on the water resources of the Kakhovka Reservoir; however, after the russian military blew up the Kakhovka HPP on 06 June 2023, the reservoir became shallow, which caused problems for the municipal heat networks and other difficulties.
The russian troops continue to commit crimes against the population in the territory of the Community: forced imposition of russian passports, seizure of property, kidnapping and ill-treatment. The Community was not affected by the hostilities, but has a high level of mining across its territory.
About 40% of the population managed to evacuate after the beginning of the occupation and find shelter in the territory controlled by Ukraine or abroad. The largest number of internally displaced persons from the Dniprorudne Community is staying in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and other cities of Ukraine.
People of the Community
Today, the Community is headed by Anton Kozyrev, the head of the Dniprorudne Military Administration. Before being appointed to the position, he worked at the Zaporizhzhia Iron Ore Combine, and later was elected a counsellor of the Dniprorudne Town Council.
Since the war broke out, he has been actively developing and supporting volunteer projects aimed at helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the internally displaced persons.
The leadership of the Community continues to work in the city of Zaporizhzhia, so this city has become a centre for the support and development of the Community’s internally displaced persons. The Administration provides humanitarian aid from international and Ukrainian charitable funds. About 165 IDP families receive humanitarian kits every month. The Community organizes aid distributions not only in Zaporizhzhia, but also in the cities of Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih; in addition, aid is sent to other localities across Ukraine where Dniprorudne residents are staying.
Today, it is important to support those who are defending our country; that is why the Community has developed a Program to support military personnel and their families, under which one can receive one-time financial aid.
It is important for the Community to help and support its residents in difficult times, especially children. Interesting festive, entertaining and educational events are held for the little members of the Community: a burger making master class, festive events for important dates.
The Community continues to find new opportunities in the area of cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, charitable foundations and other institutions to provide its residents with everything they need.
Development Strategy
The Dniprorudne Community tries to create a modern, ecological, economically diverse Community and its key development areas include:
- developing an environmentally friendly community;
- increasing its economic potential;
- improving the quality of life of its residents.
The Community plans to develop and implement strategic infrastructure projects that will help implement its priority development areas and create a community of the “promising future”.
One of these projects is the creation of a wholesale and retail market platform for the storage, processing and sale of agricultural products. The Dniprorudne Community is surrounded by territories where a large amount of agricultural products are produced, and this requires their storage and processing.
The Community plans to create a production enterprise for the processing of household waste, in particular, with the selection of valuable components that can be used for reprocessing.
One of the bright and priority projects in the field of alternative energy development is the construction of a wind power plant in the territory of the Kakhovka Reservoir and the installation of panels for generating solar energy and geo-collectors on the roofs of buildings.
The recreational potential of the Community creates opportunities for the development of rehabilitation centres for servicemen, veterans, their families and residents affected by the war. Therefore, it is planned to create centres for psychological and physical rehabilitation across the Community.
Sources
- Telegram channel of the Community – t.me/dniprorudnevma
- Facebook page of the Community – facebook.com/dniprorudnevma
- Website of the Community – dnrada.gov.ua
- Suspilne News website – suspilne.media
- suspilne.media
- Website of the Nature Reserves of Ukraine – wownature.in.ua
- Website of travel agency AngaTravel – https://anga.ua/city/dniprorudne.html
- News website of Forbes Ukraine – forbes.ua
- V. H. Zabolotnyi State Scientific Architecture and Construction Library – dnabb.org