Komysh-Zoria Settlement Community

Zaporizhzhia
Population:

The Komysh-Zoria Settlement Territorial Community is located in the territory of the Polohy District of the Zaporizhia Region.

Total surface area of the community: 371.1 km2.

The community has a population of 6,230 people.
Women: 3,854 people.
Men: 2,376 people.

It consists of 10 communities. The administrative centre of the Community is located in Komysh-Zoria.

History and Natural Resources 

The Komysh-Zoria Settlement Territorial Community was formed on 27 August 2015.

As a result, the Komysh-Zoria Community emerged on the map consisting of the Komysh-Zoria Settlement Council and the Blahovishchenka, Bilotserkivka, Lantseve, Shevchenkivske Village Councils, from which the starosta-headed districts were formed.

One of the most famous architectural landmarks in the territory of the Komysh-Zoria Community are the remains of the Oleksiivska fortress. It is located in the Lantseve starosta-headed district. The fortress was built during the russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, was part of the fortifications of the Dnipro line of fortresses and was supposed to protect the lands from the subjects of the Ottoman Empire.

The Oleksiivska fortress now lies in ruins. It was built against the incursions of the Turks from the south, but at the time of its completion, it became unimportant from a military point of view. The fortress was to become one of the seven fortifications of the Dnipro line.

Today, the ruins of the Oleksiivska fortress are a contour of ramparts up to one meter high in the form of an eight-pointed star.

Oleksiivska fortress plan
Oleksiivska fortress plan
Oleksiivska fortress remains
Oleksiivska fortress remains

There are four rivers with a total length of 53.5 km in the territory of the community, including one of the largest rivers of the region – Berda, which flows into the Sea of Azov. The territorial community is rich in ponds; the total area of their mirrors is 239.89 hectares.

Economy and Welfare

The community is located in the steppe natural-agricultural-economic zone. The soils are mainly chornozem, ordinary low-power low-humus soils and their eroded varieties.

As regards minerals, the community is rich in clay, sand and gravel. The Komysh-Zoria community belongs to the steppe zone, although it has 678 hectares of forests.

The main enterprises that play an important role are: Komysh-Zoria railway station, a poultry farm, an elevator. Agriculture in the community is developed, too.

Railway station
Railway station
Elevator
Elevator

Also, there are several agricultural enterprises working in the territory of the community, which keep and breed livestock.

There are four general secondary education institutions and four preschool education institutions in the territory of the community.

A school
A school

The development of sports has many positive effects on health, and, therefore, the community actively develops these activities, in particular, by holding regional and district football competitions.

A football match
A football match

The community pays great attention to festivals and cultural development. Various festivals were held in the community on a regular basis.

More information about festivals is available on: www.facebook.com/kzotg

Festivals
Festivals

Much attention is paid to informing the population about the community life. In particular, the Information LED Screen broadcasts information for people with limited mobility about announcements of events in the community, meetings of sessions, greetings on the occasion of the holidays. As a result of participation in international projects, the Information LED Screen was purchased and installed in the centre of the community.

LED screen
LED screen

Community and War

From the first days of the invasion by the aggressor country of the territory of Ukraine, the Komysh-Zoria Settlement Council has suffered devastating missile attacks and human losses.

Community head Ihor Hnatusha immediately organized the work to eliminate the consequences and provide assistance to the population.

Ihor Hnatusha
Ihor Hnatusha

The starostas of the villages were on the ground and ready to defend their land. People resisted and went out in an organized protest against the invaders. Courageous residents of the community helped the Armed Forces of Ukraine and passed on information about the movement of russian military equipment and thereby helped destroy it.

Unfortunately, from 03 March 2022 until today, the territory of the Komysh-Zoria Settlement Territorial Community has been temporarily occupied.

The invaders did not allow the head of the settlement and the employees of the settlement council to work in the territory of the community. Ihor Hnatusha was forced to leave the territory of the community to the regional centre. But even at a distance, the head of the community was able to organize and run the remote work of the entire team.

Constantly, as long as it was possible, he organized the sending of large loads of humanitarian aid to the occupied territory of the community for the population because the people were on the verge of a disaster having no money, medicines, or food. After the invaders prohibited the delivery of humanitarian aid to the territory of the settlement council, Ihor Hnatusha continues to organize and provide all possible types of assistance to the internally displaced persons of the territorial community.

Giving away humanitarian aid in Zaporizhia
Giving away humanitarian aid in Zaporizhia

As of today, the territory of the community has suffered destruction, namely: the Komysh-Zoria elevator, the compound feed plant, the Blahovishchenka poultry farm.

suspilne.media A video made by the community head about the life in occupation / Source: suspilne.media

Number of damaged / destroyed facilities: 53, buildings: 45, apartments: 8.

Damaged motor vehicles and buildings
Damaged motor vehicles and buildings

People of the Community

Ihor Hnatusha is the head of the Komysh-Zoria Settlement Territorial Community.

Community head
Community head

Ihor Hnatusha has 22 years of experience working in local self-government bodies and has been awarded with awards at various (regional, national) levels.

The head received the order “For services to the Zaporizhia Region, II degree”, 2021.
The head received the order “For services to the Zaporizhia Region, II degree”, 2021.

In 2020, he was elected Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian National Association of Local Self-Government Bodies “Association of the United Territorial Communities”. He has also been elected Head of the Zaporizhia regional branch of the “Association of the United Territorial Communities” in 2016.

In 2020, at the local election, he was re-elected as the head of the Komysh-Zoria Settlement Council. According to an order of the President of Ukraine, he was appointed head of the Komysh-Zoria Settlement Military Administration of the Polohy District, where he works to this day.

During the full-scale invasion by the russian troops of the territory of Ukraine, many residents of the Komysh-Zoria Territorial Community made huge efforts for the future victory: raising funds to buy necessary equipment and machinery for military personnel, holding charity events, providing aid to internally displaced persons (collecting food and meeting their basic needs).

Development Strategy

Working group meeting
Working group meeting

Priority areas of activities and tasks include:

  • Resuming the work of the social infrastructure facilities in the community.
  • Implementing projects to supply drinking water to the settlements of the territorial community.
  • Building external water supply networks in Komysh-Zoria of the Polohy District, Zaporizhia Region.
  • Building an accumulator and a reverse osmosis treatment system for drinking water supply in Komysh-Zoria.
  • Restoring the damaged / destroyed housing stock of in the community.
  • Building / reconstructing outdoor lighting on the streets of the community where it is absent or needs improvement.
  • Overhauling / repairing roads in the community.
  • Installing video surveillance systems in the community.
  • Reconstructing the roof of the branch of the Lantseve Village Culture Centre.

The Komysh-Zoria Settlement Territorial Community was one of the first communities to be formed in the Zaporizhia Region. Despite the temporary occupation of its territory, the community employees continue to actively develop cooperation with international organizations.

In the future, the community is open to investors who want to develop their businesses there. After all, openness to investors can contribute to economic growth and development. It is important to ensure a balance between attracting investments and preserving the community’s values and identity.

Today, the community is open to investors who want to develop their businesses there.

The community aims at the effective development of all the areas of business and the social sphere in order to ensure its proper socio-economic and cultural development.

A community photo
A community photo
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