Hornostaivka Territorial Community

History

Hornostaivka is a historical settlement with picturesque views, which arose in the late 1790s on the Sapata stream. According to folk legends, the settlement got its name from the surname of the Cossack Holostal, who had a large flock of sheep in these places. The inhabitants of Hornostaivka were state peasants from the Poltava and Chernihiv provinces, who were mainly engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture.

Remains of a Late Bronze Age settlement, a Scythian-Sarmatian hillfort have remained near the settlement. Also, stone women of nomads of the 11th and 13th centuries were found here. The Hornostaivka area is one of the richest parts of Kherson region in terms of the number of ancient burial mounds. There are 4 archaeological monuments and 270 mounds on the territory of the community.

From 1932 to 1934, the Hornostaivka district experienced the Holodomor artificially organized by the Bolsheviks.

The Hornostaivka area was not immune to World War II either. Many died during the forcing of the Dnipro. In those days, they also experienced occupation.

The community is also rich in historical, archaeological and cultural sites, including obelisks of glory, memorials, and Orthodox churches.

The community has a landscape reserve “Kairska Balka” (Kairy Stream) located on its territory. Also, the residents and guests of the community have always been attracted by the picturesque landscapes of the Kakhovka Reservoir in Hornostaivka, Kairy and Zavodivka 

Economy and Welfare

Before the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine and the community’s occupation, 160 business entities had functioned on the territory of the settlement.

The local economy is mainly represented by the agricultural sector. From the total area of the territorial community, about 65,000 hectares are agricultural lands, which were used for growing agricultural products, commercial agricultural production, farming and running personal peasant farms.

Agricultural enterprises constantly borrowed innovative methods and modern equipment for growing grain and technical crops (wheat, barley, sunflower, corn, soy, rapeseed, millet and many other crops).

There was an elevator that provided reception, processing, storage of products and covered transport logistics by road and river transport. Grain was exported both within the country and abroad.

Manufacturing industry also played an important role in the community’s economy, filling budgets at all levels and shaping the labor market. Processing enterprises operated on the territory of the community. There were bakeries that baked bread and bakery products. Briquettes for heating were produced from the waste. This is how hospitals were heated for free. Also, one of the largest enterprises for breeding both young and adult chickens and ducks operated in the community.

The occupation of the community led to a significant decline in the economy. All enterprises and agricultural lands have been captured by the russian troops, who have been mercilessly robbing human labor of dozens of years. Residents of the community lost their jobs and livelihoods. They are forced to leave their homes and property. The harvested crops and basic equipment are exported to russia.

Since September 2023, the community schools have worked in evacuation, completely remotely. Teachers all work on their own equipment. All students have phones. Thanks to the help of foundations, UNICEF in particular, gadgets were provided to children from large families, children deprived of parental care, and children of fallen soldiers.

As a result of constant shelling by the russian troops, Hornostaivka Lyceum No. 2 was completely destroyed, one of the community’s schools suffered significant destruction, and other educational institutions were also damaged.

Community and War

 As soon as the third day of the full-scale invasion, russian troops were on the territory of the Hornostaivka area. At the same time, at the blink of an eye, all the products, even bread, disappeared from the stores. Entrepreneurs could not deliver anything without risking their lives, because battles were already taking place and russian machinery was constantly moving nearby. In Hornostaivka, local agricultural producers took vegetables and fruits to the market and distributed them to people for free.

The Kherson Region became an isolated area facing difficulties with issuing pensions and social benefits through Ukrposhta. It was also impossible to get cash from bank for customers who did not have payment cards. There was a lack of food, medicine, baby food, and hygiene products, and many people did not even have money to buy the most necessary things. Having lost their jobs, large families and single pensioners suffered the most – that’s why this category of people was prioritized in providing charitable aid.

The residents had the greatest need for medicine. At the beginning of the russian invasion, all the pharmacies that operated in the territory of the Kakhovka district were closed: the medicines were bought up, and there was no possibility to deliver them. Business leaders and farmers created a charitable bank of funds for the purchase of medicines, but, unfortunately, there was nowhere to buy them in the Kherson region. Medicines were delivered by volunteers! To do this, they risked their lives and crossed the boat to the right bank of the Dnieper, where volunteers from Kryvyi Rih were waiting for them with purchased medicines. It was a heroic act. Suffice it to say that a week later, seven people were shot in a boat on that crossing.

Residential buildings were damaged and destroyed.

The largest man-made and ecological disaster for the Hornostaivka community was the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam on June 6, 2023. The major population centers of the community were left without drinking and technical water. This makes it impossible to use irrigation systems on agricultural land.

In fact, they lost communication with the district and regional center due to the destroyed Kairy dam.

People of the Community

Dmytro Liakhno has headed the Hornostaivka settlement military administration since December 2023.

Before the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, the Hornostaivka community implemented a number of important projects. These are replacements of water supply systems and repairs of road surfaces in community population centers, construction of a children’s playground, installation of simulators for youth at the stadium, purchase of special equipment for utility companies.

Until the full-scale russian invasion, the community had held various events for the population on various holidays and solemn events. Every year, a regional competition of the military-patriotic song “War-Burnt” was held, which united vocalists not only from the region, but also from all over Ukraine. Days of the settlement and days of agriculture were celebrated and various performances and concerts were held.

Educational, cultural and sports fields played an important role in the development of the community.

There were many groups for schoolchildren, such as folk dances, theater arts, music school, sports sections, modeling, vocals and much more. The community pays great attention to a healthy lifestyle – the community head himself takes an active part in the life of the community and plays for the football team.

Currently, the Hornostaivka community is under occupation, which makes the development of infrastructure projects impossible and significantly limits the implementation of plans.

Despite this, both the community and local authorities are actively preparing for de-occupation and the restoration of post-war life. They focus on establishing links with charities and sister communities that can provide the necessary support to rebuild the community after liberation. Plans are being developed to restore the infrastructure and ensure the livelihood of the community in order to return normal living conditions for its residents as soon as possible.

Development Strategy

After the de-occupation, the main task will be the resumption of the work of the authorities, social protection, medicine, electricity and water supply, as well as economic activity. The priorities will be to provide the population with food and basic necessities.

The development strategy until 2025 has been approved in the community, which provides for the development of agriculture, processing of agricultural products, horticulture, wholesale trade, as well as wind and solar energy. Considerable attention will be paid to attracting investments in the food industry, trade, tourism, recreation, and the creation of nature conservation areas.

To improve the investment climate, favorable conditions for local and foreign investors will be created in the community. It is planned to introduce new technologies and energy-saving measures, in particular, the transition to alternative sources of heating. The community has significant natural resources, infrastructure facilities and vacant land that could be offered for investment projects.

The Hornostaivka community concluded memorandums of cooperation with charitable organizations and foundations. These memorandums will provide support in the reconstruction and development of the community, as well as contribute to socio-economic development after de-occupation.

List of Sources

• Official website of the Hornostaivka settlement territorial community
• Facebook page of the Hornostaivka community:
• Website “Nyzhni Syrohozy City”
• Official website of the Kakhovka District State Administration of the Kherson Region:
• Official website of the Kherson Regional State Administration
• Website “Suspilne. Kherson”