Kostiantynivka Territorial Community

Zaporizhzhia
Population:

The Kostiantynivka rural territorial community is located in the south of Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia region. The community includes two population centers: Kostiantynivka and Voznesenka. The village of Kostiantynivka is located on the left bank of the Molochna River. The total area of the community is 230.71 km².

The estimated population of the territorial community as of June 1, 2023 was 16,722 people, including 1,747 internally displaced persons.

History

The village of Kostiantynivka and the village of Voznesenka were founded in the middle of the 19th century on the site of the former Nogai auls of Yedynokhta and Bourdek Essebey. This area has been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by archaeological findings: the remains of Neolithic settlements (4th millennium BC) and mounds were discovered near Voznesenka. The Kara-Tube burial mound was found near the village of Kostiantynivka. The main barrow of Kara-Tube belonged to the Scythian period (4th millennium BC). The burial of a noble woman was discovered in it. And burials of the Bronze Age were investigated in the second barrow.

Kuran-Tube mound in the village of Voznesenka
Kuran-Tube mound in the village of Voznesenka Source

On the territory of the modern Kostiantynivka rural territorial community there are monuments that testify to the indomitability of the residents and their struggle for their own statehood – the Memorial to the victims of the Holodomor, monuments dedicated to the struggle of the Ukrainian people during the Second World War.

Petro Odynets Square in the village of Kostiantynivka
Petro Odynets Square in the village of Kostiantynivka Source

Economy and Welfare

The main spheres developed in the Kostiantynivka rural territorial community are trade, agriculture and horticulture. 92 enterprises were registered in the community. The agricultural sector of the economy is represented by 30 farms. The total area of land for agriculture as of January 1, 2022 was 21,000 hectares. The farms of the community grow grain and oil crops. Fruits (cherries, peaches, apples) are grown on an area of 148.5 hectares, 14.3 hectares are occupied by berries (strawberries, raspberries) and 27 hectares are under vineyards. In addition, 15 machine-building enterprises were registered and operated on the territory of the community.

Land-based solar power plant Scythia-Solar-1 SPP
Land-based solar power plant Scythia-Solar-1 SPP Source

Alternative energy was developing in the community. The land-based solar power plant Scythia-Solar-1 is located on the territory of the Kostiantynivka rural territorial community and was put into operation in 2018 with an installed capacity of 13.0 MW. On July 25, 2019, the new solar power plant Scythia-Solar-2 with a capacity of 33 MW, which covers an area of ​​50 hectares and is equipped with more than 91,000 solar panels of the JA Solar company, was put into commercial operation. The plant produced almost 42,000 MW∙h per year. This is enough to provide electricity to 13,300 households. The capacity of two lines of Scythia is 46 MW. The launch of Scythia-Solar made it possible to prevent emissions of 51,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year.

The educational sector is well-developed in the Kostiantynivka community. Before the full-scale invasion, there were 5 general secondary education institutions (where 1,681 students studied), four of which continued to work in an online format, and 3 preschool education institutions, which seated about 400 children. Great attention was paid to children with special educational needs. The Inclusive Resource Center worked on the territory of the community. Educational institutions actively cooperated with international and public organizations, successfully implemented projects and developed and improved the competence of teachers.

Kostiantynivka Lyceum “Erudyt”
Kostiantynivka Lyceum “Erudyt”

In addition, there were two art schools, a cultural center and two culture houses that housed libraries (more than 18,000 books). Recreation areas include 2 parks and 5 playgrounds.

Shrovetide in the courtyard of the House of Culture in the village of Kostiantynivka
Shrovetide in the courtyard of the House of Culture in the village of Kostiantynivka Source

The community paid special attention to sports and physical development of the population. On the territory of the villages, sports fields with simulators, football fields, tennis courts were arranged, and a children’s and youth sports school was functioning. Pupils of the kettlebell sports club under the leadership of Honored Coach of Ukraine Serhiy Kubrak made significant achievements both in Ukraine and abroad.

Tennis competition
Tennis competition Source
Opening of the sports ground in the village of Kostiantynivka
Opening of the sports ground in the village of Kostiantynivka Source

Community and War

The Kostiantynivska rural territorial community has been under occupation from the first days of the full-scale invasion. None of the villages of the community has been destroyed or damaged so far.

Aid for internally displaced persons of the Kostiantynivka community on the eve of the Christmas holidays
Aid for internally displaced persons of the Kostiantynivka community on the eve of the Christmas holidays
Issuance of bed linen sets for internally displaced persons of the Kostiantynivka community
Issuance of bed linen sets for internally displaced persons of the Kostiantynivka community

People of the Community

Valeria Pavlenko was appointed the head of the Kostiantynivka rural military administration by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July 2023. During the year of work, programs of financial assistance to the military of the community, a program to support prisoners and missing residents of the community, and a comprehensive program of social protection of the population were implemented.

Valeria Pavlenko, head of the Kostiantynivka rural military administration
Valeria Pavlenko, head of the Kostiantynivka rural military administration

Also, humanitarian aid was repeatedly provided to internally displaced persons of the community and holidays for children were organized together with partner organizations, both in the country and abroad.

Meeting of the commission on providing one-time financial assistance to the military
Meeting of the commission on providing one-time financial assistance to the military

Development Strategy

The basis of the effective activity of the Kostiantynivka community is strategic planning of activities. The Kostiantynivka rural territorial community should at least return to the state of a pre-war economically and financially stable community with developed infrastructure and ecologically clean (mine-cleared) territory, providing the population with jobs and quality services, and with high culture and consciousness of the inhabitants of our state.

Since agriculture and horticulture are the priority sectors of the economy on the territory of the Kostiantynivka rural territorial community, one of the urgent directions is the creation of a communal enterprise for the processing of agricultural crops. 

One of the problematic issues is the outdated system of water networks. Therefore, the priority is the complete replacement and modernization of water networks throughout the territory of the community.

The need for energy saving remains relevant. Educational and healthcare institutions need not only repair of premises, but also insulation and replacement of double-glazed windows.

After de-occupation, the community will need law enforcement vehicles, garbage collection vehicles, excavators, utility, construction and loading equipment, as well as rescue and special equipment.

There is a spring and a lake on the territory of the community. These locations can become great places for recreation for the population and attract the attention of tourists.

Spring in the village of Kostiantynivka
Spring in the village of Kostiantynivka Source
Lake in the village of Kostiantynivka
Lake in the village of Kostiantynivka Source

List of Sources

  • Website of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration 
  • Website of the Kostiantynivka Community (currently out of service) 
  • WIKIPEDIA 
  • Images posted on the Wikimapia resource 
  • A collection of photos in the open Telegram channel of the local historian, digger, photo hunter for architectural highlights Dmytro Antifeev 
If you want to contact an Ukrainian community or have additional questions regarding the project please contact us: [email protected]