Korostyshiv Terrotorial Community

History 

Settlements on the territory of the present-day community date back to the times when the land had been inhabited by Drevlians, or Early East Slavs, in the 6th and 7th centuries before they were conquered by Kievan princes. The first written record about Korostyshiv appears in 1499 when the town was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1779, Korostyshiv was granted the Magdeburg rights; it received its own coat-of-arms featuring the noble crest of the then town owners – the Olizars, the ancient Ukrainian-Polish aristocratic house.

After the second division of Poland in 1793, Korostyshiv became part of the Russian empire until the end of the World War I. Like most small towns in the region, it had a sizable Jewish community. According to the 1897 census, Jews made up 52% of the town’s population (source).

Korostyshiv Canyon 

Korostyshiv has been an important centre of granite mining since as far as the 19th century. Some of the granite quarries were later flooded, and one of such flooded quarries became known as the Korostyshiv Canion – a beloved attraction for both locals and tourists. The place is surrounded by granite rocks, pine forests and one of its sides opens up to a public beach. Its water is of striking emerald colour, and the rocks are often used as a training venue by rock-climbers. 

Korostyshiv Park — Art Amid Nature

We invite you to a truly unique place where nature meets art — Korostyshiv Park! Its history dates back to the 19th century, when the area served as a retreat for the noble Olyzar family. Although the original layout of the park has not survived, today it has been reborn in a new form — as an open-air art gallery.

The park found new life thanks to the vision of local sculptor and Honored Artist of Ukraine, Vitalii Rozhyk. The creator of over 500 sculptures, his works grace public spaces not only in Ukraine but also across many European countries. Through his artistic energy and the dedication of his students and volunteers, the park has become a one-of-a-kind cultural hub. Today, the community proudly hosts over 100 sculptures, earning a place in the Ukrainian Book of Records for the highest number of sculptures per capita.

But Korostyshiv Park is more than just a place to relax. It is a vibrant cultural space where festivals, exhibitions, folk celebrations, and master classes take place — a venue where Ukrainian traditions are preserved and revived. In the near future, the park will host regular international sculpture symposiums, establishing our city as a key cultural destination on the map of Ukraine and Europe.

This September 2025, we warmly welcome all visitors to a celebration of creativity marking the anniversary of Vitalii Rozhyk’s artistic journey, as well as the unveiling of new sculptural works.

You are warmly invited to our community — a place where inspiration lives and art comes to life.

The inspiration for the project was drawn from the local sculptor Vitaliy Rozhyk, who is the author of more than 500 pieces of outdoor art many of which are now found in different countries across Europe. 

The park is situated on the bank of the Teteriv river and is both a popular recreational and leisure spot for locals and a well-known tourist attraction. 

Development Strategy of the Korostyshiv Community

The Korostyshiv community is confidently looking toward the future and actively working on comprehensive development. Our key priorities include strengthening the education and healthcare systems, supporting culture and sports, and creating a comfortable, eco-friendly, and people-oriented environment.

We aim to transform our city into a tourist destination, as we have much to offer: picturesque landscapes, unique historical landmarks, and a beautiful park — all of which form a strong foundation for tourism development. We are already working on digitalizing city tours to make Korostyshiv more accessible and engaging for visitors.

Our community is also open to cooperation with investors. We offer fertile land, a strong stone-processing industry, and — most importantly — hardworking and talented people. Korostyshiv has all the resources needed for business and manufacturing growth, with products capable of competing successfully on international markets.

We believe that through close collaboration and strong partnerships, we can achieve much more — not only for Korostyshiv, but for all our communities. Together, we can create a future of shared success and prosperity.

The important objectives are to finish the construction of a dumping ground for solid household waste and to build a waste management and recycling plant. Korostyshiv has some free land parcels and premises for industrial and energy facilities. Another important objective is renovation of municipal treatment facilities.

Community and war 

The Korostyshiv community was fortunate to avoid active combat, which took place just a few dozen kilometers to the east. Although we suffered only minor damage from drone debris, from the very first days of the full-scale invasion, we opened our doors to those whose lives were torn apart by the war.

People came to us from Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, and Makariv—towns that became symbols of tragedy and resilience. Here, they received not only shelter but also medical and psychological support, compassion, and care.

Since the beginning of the invasion, our community has welcomed around 3,000 internally displaced persons. We have done—and continue to do—everything we can to make them feel safe and supported. Some chose to stay and have become an integral part of our community, while others moved on to different regions or countries.

Every day, we unite in support of our defenders. We help, we care, and we hold the line behind them. At the same time, we focus on building the future—investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure so that every resident feels cared for and valued.

We did not break. We adapt and grow. And most importantly—we stand united.

Volunteers in Korostyshiv making camouflage nets for the Ukrainian troops while singing the Ukrainian anthem.

Yurii Denysovets has extensive managerial experience and a long-standing career in local self-government and public administration.
▪️ From 2015 to 2019, he held the position of Deputy Mayor of Korostyshiv.
▪️ From December 2019 to February 2021, he served as the Head of the Korostyshiv District State Administration in Zhytomyr Oblast.
▪️ From February 17 to October 4, 2021, he was the Head of the Zhytomyr District State Administration.
▪️ Since October 5, 2021, he has held the position of Deputy Head of the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration.

Despite his dynamic career growth and high-level roles at the regional level, it was the need for positive change in his hometown of Korostyshiv that motivated his return.

Today, Yurii Denysovets is fully dedicated to his role, channeling his knowledge and experience into the development, renewal, and prosperity of the Korostyshiv community.