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Lyman Territorial Community
Donetsk
Population:
The Lyman urban territorial community is located on the territory of Kramatorsk district, Donetsk region.
The total area of the territory is 1,209.75 km2.The population of the community is 8,643 people (41,066 people before February 24, 2022)
Women: 4,315 (22,976 before February 24, 2022)
Men: 4,328 (18,890 before February 24, 2022)
IDPs: 1,329 (22,886 before February 24, 2022)
The community includes 40 population centers and has its administrative center in the town of Lyman.
History
The Lyman community has a centuries-old history that goes back thousands of years. As evidenced by numerous archaeological finds, people lived on these lands as early as the Stone Age.
Ancient settlements discovered near Lyman, Ozerne, Yampil and other areas show how different cultures left their mark in this region. One of the most significant monuments is the Bronze Age site near the village of Yampil, where people were engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding, fishing, hunting, and also making metal products – a real sensation for that time.
Before the full-scale war, the Lyman area was known not only for its historical heritage, but also as the “lungs” of industrial Donbas thanks to thousands of hectares of forests, natural parks and recreational areas. The National Park “Holy Mountains”, the reserve “Cretaceous Flora”, numerous lakes, the Siverskyi Donets and more than 200 recreation centers created a unique atmosphere for recreation and tourism development.
Unfortunately, on February 24, 2022, the life of the community changed. Almost the entire territory of the Lyman area was occupied by russian troops, and only seven months later it was liberated. Local residents strive to restore their lands and create comfortable conditions for life, business development and investment attraction. In the future, the community sees itself as a space for innovation, education and active development of youth.
Today, the Lyman community is recovering and dreams of returning to a peaceful life. Local residents are strong, stable and confident that together they will overcome any difficulties. Their aspiration is to restore the area and create favorable conditions for living, business development and population growth.
Economy and Welfare
The economy of the Lyman community is based on several key industries, among which railway transport plays a leading role. As a former important logistics hub, Lyman maintains its position in the field of rail transportation, ensuring the economic stability of the community.
Agriculture also plays a significant role in the economy of the community. In total, 94 agricultural enterprises are engaged in the production of plant and animal products. They specialize in the cultivation of grain and industrial crops, as well as cattle breeding.
In addition, three processing enterprises operate on the territory of the community: Chaika LLC, which produces flour and bakery products, Vsesto LLC, which specializes in canned vegetables, and Kombikormovyi Zavod LLC, which produces fodder products.
The economic complex of the community is represented by the Lyman industrial and transport hub, the forestry of 21.6 thousand hectares and the powerful recreational potential of existing and prospective recreation areas. The area is rich in mineral resources, the complex of which is represented by energy, balneological and construction raw materials, in particular: reserves of construction sand, gas, oil, peat, and water.
Before the war, active tourism was an integral part of the economy of the Lyman community. Thanks to the unique nature, picturesque landscapes and numerous recreational areas, the community attracted tourists, offering various types of recreation. Rafting along the Siverskyi Donets, bicycle routes, underground excursions and ecotours were especially popular. Not only did these activities generate revenues, but also contributed to the formation of a positive image of the community as an attractive tourist destination.
Community and War
Since the beginning of russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the Lyman community has suffered large-scale destruction.
More than 90% of critical infrastructure, residential buildings, schools, kindergartens and hospitals were destroyed or damaged. Community rebuilding is an extremely difficult task that is difficult to solve without external help.
Local population centers still suffer from constant shelling, which again destroys already repaired buildings. Due to the legal regime of martial law and mandatory evacuation, more than 70% of the community’s residents were forced to leave their homes.
Currently, the situation in the community is very difficult. After the de-occupation of the Lyman community, a number of important measures were organized to stabilize the situation.
Responsible services are engaged in demining of territories, demolition of debris, liquidation of fires and restoration of life support facilities. Points of Invincibility were created on the basis of preserved community-owned assets, which provide warmth and support to local residents. The supply of food and basic necessities has been established and free distribution of bread and humanitarian kits has been organized. The work of bank branches, Ukrposhta, pharmacies, shops and institutions of household services is gradually being restored.
Despite constant military operations, the community tries to continue its cultural life. Many cultural institutions have switched to remote work, organizing online events, trainings and courses. Cultural workers constantly improve their qualifications by participating in seminars and trainings to remain professionals in their field. At the same time, projects are being actively implemented aimed at restoring the community and preserving national identity, which ensures access to cultural values even in wartime.
People of the Community
Oleksandr Zhuravliov is the head of the Lyman urban military administration.
Before the start of the full-scale war, the Lyman community was an active center of cultural and economic life. Every year, festivals and other cultural events were held here, which attracted tourists and contributed to the development of local culture. One of the key areas was ethnocultural events: folklore festivals and fairs, which not only gathered guests, but also preserved folk traditions and developed local tourism.
The community also supported literary evenings, exhibitions of local artists and fairs of folk crafts, which gave young people the opportunity to show their creative talents. In addition, sports were actively developed here – football, athletics and other sports events for children and youth were held. The popularity of sports sections among young people contributed to their physical development.
Agriculture was another important field. The area was famous for its fertile lands, and the community introduced new agricultural technologies, which contributed to the development of farms and attracting investments. Oleksandr Zhuravliov actively supported initiatives to modernize the agricultural sector and support local business.
With the beginning of the war, the Lyman community faced serious challenges: destroyed infrastructure, hostilities, and a humanitarian crisis. The former head of the community, and now the head of the military administration, Oleksandr Zhuravliov, took responsibility for organizing aid to the survivors and restoring vital systems.
Under the leadership of the community head, it was possible to restore water supply in many areas of the community, as well as partially repair roads, electricity networks and public buildings. Thanks to international partners and volunteers, materials for the repair of residential buildings and social facilities were delivered. Cooperation with the Ukrainian diaspora in the USA made it possible to organize permanent humanitarian shipments of food, medicine and clothing for people who were left without means of livelihood.
Special attention was paid to war veterans, people with disabilities and families of the dead. On Zhuravliov’s initiative, psychological rehabilitation programs were organized for those who suffered from the war. Despite the difficult conditions, the community continues to hold patriotic events, honoring the memory of fallen soldiers and celebrating important dates, such as Independence Day and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine.
Not only did Oleksandr Zhuravliov organize work to restore the community, but he also supports cultural and patriotic initiatives, helping to preserve the identity of the community even in difficult times. His efforts are aimed at uniting people, developing the economy, and returning to normal life despite the challenges of war.
Development Strategy
With the support of the UNDP Recovery and Peacebuilding Program, a Development Strategy until 2025 was developed in the Lyman community, which was approved by a decision of the Lyman Town Council back in 2018.
Before the start of the full-scale war, the strategic vision of the future of the community was that Lyman would become the northern railway gate of Donbas, a powerful logistics center with a developed transport infrastructure, an industrial park and significant agricultural potential. In addition, the Lyman community planned to become a unique recreational and tourist center, as well as a comfortable place to live with a high level of culture.
Before the invasion, the development of tourism was one of the priority directions for the community. It actively supported partnership relations with sister cities both in Ukraine and abroad, in particular with the municipality of Klaipėda County in Lithuania, the town of Westport in the state of Connecticut, USA, and the town of Tiachiv in the Zakarpattia region.
List of Sources
- Official Facebook page of the Culture and Tourism Department of the Lyman Town Council “Culture of the Lyman Area”
- Internet resource “Tourist Lyman Area”
- “Logos Ukraine” publishing house
- Official website of the community
- Community Facebook page
- Information portal of the Lyman area
- Ukrinform
- Community Facebook page
- https://tribun.com.ua/uk/115239-u-merezhi-zjavilisja-foto-kraevidiv-zrujnovanogo-limanu-na-donechchini