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Irshava Territorial Community
Zakarpattia
Population:
The Irshava Community was established in 2017. It is located in the Khust Raion of Zakarpattia Oblast, in the foothills of the Carpathians, on both banks of the Irshavka River (a tributary of the Borzhava River). The administrative centre, the town of Irshava, is one of Ukraine’s historic settlements. The community covers an area of 309.5 km². The community consists of 19 villages, 9 of which are mountainous.
Population: 35,732 people.
Women: 18,376.
Men: 17,356.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs): 400.
History
The community centre, the town of Irshava, was an Iron Age settlement in the 8th-7th centuries BC.
In 1458, during a civil war, Irshava was looted and burned down. The first documentary records about Irshava date back to 1341, when the settlement was mentioned as Maksymhaza (Maksym’s settlement). The population continues to use the original name of the settlement, Irzhava, for Irshava.
At the end of the 19th century, the settlement obtained the right to engage in market trade. The junction station of the Borzhava narrow-gauge railway, popularly known as ‘Ancia Kushnytska’, which has run through Irshava since 1908, gave an even greater impetus to the economic development of the region. Currently, the narrow-gauge railway is not in operation, but it has tourist potential.
On 10 September 1919, Irshava became part of the Czechoslovak Republic and was granted the status of a district centre. The Czechoslovak era was a period of prosperity for Irshava. The historic buildings have been preserved to this day, as well as the arched transport bridge (1928), which is a symbol of Irshava.
The first mentions of the villages of the Irshava community date back to the 14th-17th centuries. Three wooden churches have been preserved, and the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin (1839) in the village of Deshkovytsia and the Church of the Presentation of the Holy Virgin (1734) in the village of Lokit are architectural monuments of national importance.
58% of all community land is covered by forests. The Nature Reserve Fund has three areas of national importance: The Enchanted Land, the Enchanted Valley Hydrological Reserve, and the Black Bog Hydrological Natural Monument. The nature of the community consists of mountains and rivers, unique swamps and rocks, primeval forests, and rich flora and fauna.
Irshava is proud of its natives and the people who live here. Among them are artists, politicians, writers, footballers and other athletes.
Economy and Welfare
The presence of natural and mineral resources – deposits of brown coal (lignite), natural mineral paints, decorative tuffs, marble limestone, bentonite clay, ceramic clay, andesites, forests using the latest technological solutions – are not only a strong point for community development, but also highly attractive for investment.
The main types of economic activity are machine building, woodworking, mining and light industry, and agriculture. Powerful enterprises such as K’Len, Ilnytskyi Zavod MZU, BEB, Bereg Kabel GmbH, and Sleep ID Ukraine have a significant impact on the local economy, providing jobs and supplying products to domestic and international markets.
In recent years, carriers providing international and domestic logistics services have received a boost to their development. There are about 20 of them registered in the community.
The potential for the development of craft production and horticulture has increased. Blacksmithing, beekeeping, cheese production, and confectionery are among the most developed crafts and agricultural industries in the community.
The community has a well-developed tourist and recreational infrastructure: hotel and restaurant complexes, recreation centres, green estates.
The Irshava community pays considerable attention to the development of education, culture and sport. There are 23 pre-school educational institutions, 21 schools, 4 extracurricular institutions and an inclusive resource centre available to the youngest children. Art and food festivals, sports competitions and half marathons are held here. Since 2019, a ‘Community Initiatives Budget’ has been introduced.
In Irshava, they train champions of Ukraine, Europe and the world. Under the guidance of wise mentors, hundreds of children in the community engage in their favourite sports: boxing, football, Goju-ryu karate, checkers, volleyball, judo, weightlifting.
Every year, the branch of the Central Camp for Tourist Activists of Ukraine, part of the Ukrainian State Centre for National-Patriotic Education, Local History and Tourism, located in the village of Osii, hosts various competitions, rallies, summer schools and other events, not only for schoolchildren. Traditionally, teams from all regions of Ukraine gather here to participate in the All-Ukrainian military-patriotic game for children and youth called ‘Sokil’ (‘Dzhura’).
The network of healthcare facilities includes: Irshava City Hospital, nine general practice family medicine clinics, eight paramedic stations, and the Irshava Primary Healthcare Centre.
The Community and the War
Since February 2022, with the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Irshava community has become a transit and host community for internally displaced persons and relocated businesses. In the first few months, around 3,000 people registered with the community. Currently, there are approximately 400 IDPs, 50 of whom reside in two compact settlements.
The authorities, various non-governmental and religious organisations, and local residents support them in every way possible. In particular, thanks to cooperation with philanthropists from various countries, the public organisations Irshavski Promeni, Pobazhannia, Volontery Zakarpattia and others delivered dozens of tonnes of humanitarian aid for civilians, which was provided to local IDPs and sent to various regions of Ukraine.
A fire engine donated by the community of Lindau, Germany, has been on duty at the Irshava State Emergency Service since 2023.
In cooperation with the authorities and local businesses, seven Ukrainian companies have relocated to the community, which has had a positive impact on its economic development.
From the very first days of the full-scale invasion, the community’s residents stood up to defend their country. Over 300 local men and women serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As of today, 42 soldiers from the community have been killed and more than 15 are missing.
Irshava is home to representative offices of the Zakarpattia municipal institution “Veterans’ Space ‘At Home’” and the Zakarpattia Regional Centre for Training the Population for National Resistance. Here, social support is provided to combatants, persons with disabilities resulting from war and their families, those who have returned from captivity, families of the deceased, families of those missing under special circumstances, and they also actively participate in community life, promoting national and patriotic education of the younger generation in every way possible.
The community regularly holds charity fairs in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other fundraising events for the needs of the military. Residents, community and volunteer organisations, children, young people and businesses are organising fundraising in various ways to purchase and repair equipment for the military, drones, various ammunition and other aid. Local housewives constantly prepare and send treats to our defenders.
In the early days, community members of all ages organised themselves to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The first volunteer centre was set up in the gym of Irshava Lyceum No. 1. Subsequently, volunteers established an initiative group called ‘From Irshava with Love.’ Similar collection points for military and civilian aid were organised in all educational institutions and local councils in the community.
In 2023, VOG ‘SOHTASH’ was established – an international volunteer task force that organises the provision of various types of vehicles, UAVs, means of generating and producing alternative energy and heat, etc. to the combat units of the Ukrainian defence forces.
People of the Community
Irshava Mayor Viktor Symkanynets was elected in 2020. Prior to that, he had 20 years of management experience in various institutions and establishments, but the current opportunities for local self-government and the threats caused by the war presented him with a new challenge. The mayor’s personal role in allocating funds for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – more than 23 million hryvnias from the city budget has been financed for the defence forces.
Development Strategy
In December 2023, the Development Strategy for the Irshava Community and the Implementation Plan until 2027 were approved. The strategic vision for the development of the Irshava community will be achieved through the implementation of three strategic objectives:
- Sustainable economic development community
- A community open to comprehensive human development and friendly to the environment
- A community offering comfortable and safe living conditions, developed and energy-efficient infrastructure
The Irshava city authorities, together with active citizens and businesses, are striving for sustainable community development. The full-scale Russian invasion forced us to adapt to the realities of martial law and do everything possible to create safe and inclusive living conditions for all segments of the population. Critical infrastructure facilities require priority support.
Important tasks include:
- attracting investment through the lease of vacant land plots and areas;
- development of tourist routes and gastro-tourism;
- development of a comprehensive spatial development plan;
- support for local craft production and SMEs;
- ensuring uninterrupted access to high-quality drinking water, modernisation of treatment facilities;
- improving energy efficiency and introducing alternative energy sources;
- preservation of the community’s tangible and intangible heritage, including the Borzhava narrow-gauge railway;
- international cooperation and partnership with cities and communities in Ukraine and around the world.
In 2022, the Irshava community became a partner of the USAID Ukraine Governance and Local Accountability Project (HOVERLA). A lot has been achieved. The USAID HOVERLA Project provided over 8 million hryvnias worth of equipment and machinery, implemented 12 projects, and helped executive bodies improve their professional skills.
In 2024, the Irshava community was recognised as the best in terms of public engagement in the process of developing and implementing local policies, for which it received a special award from the USAID HOVERLA project.
