Novopskov Settlement Territorial Community

History

Novopskov was founded in 1638. Its first name was Zakamianka.

It is the first united territorial community created in Ukraine, which was actively developing its infrastructure, creating modern conditions for education and development of children, winning international grants, implementing innovations and never getting tired of being creative to rally residents around the development of their native land since July 2015.

Recently, the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning supported the renaming of the settlement to Aidar. The final renaming will take place only after a successful vote in the Verkhovna Rada. 

Chalk mountain Prystin and thermal sulfur-hydrogen spring Solionka are the calling cards of the community.

There are 75 objects of archaeological heritage, 22 historical monuments, 1 architectural monument, 13 nature reserves and 4 natural monuments on the territory of the Community which are under protection.

Economy and Welfare

Natural resources formed the main priority of the community – agriculture.

The community’s enterprises and institutions mainly specialized in agriculture, retail and wholesale trade, public services, recreation, and tourism before the start of the full-scale invasion.

Before the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 600 individual entrepreneurs and almost 250 legal entities were registered on the territory of the Community.

Sanatorium “Perlyna” is located on the outskirts of the settlement of Novopskov. It is a specialized medical and preventive complex designed for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, digestive and respiratory organs, mild form of diabetes. The sanatorium provided psychological rehabilitation for the participants of the anti-terrorist operation and for their families.

There was the Novopskov industrial site of the Kramatorsk linear production department of main gas pipelines on the territory of the community, which was one of the largest nodes of the gas transportation system of Ukraine through which gas coming from the russian federation was transported for export to the countries of Western Europe and the industrial and central regions of Ukraine.

Community and War

The full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine led to the temporary occupation of the territory of the Community from March 03, 2022. By decree of the President of Ukraine, the Novopskov settlement military administration of the Starobilsk district of the Luhansk region was formed.

The russian military quickly entered the Novopskov community – it is only 30 km from the border of the russian federation to Novopskov. That is why it was not possible for everyone who wanted to evacuate immediately.

Since February 24, 2022, the residents of the community were fighting for freedom all the time. Some joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, some took part in peaceful actions under Ukrainian flags until the armed occupiers opened fire on them. Instead of enslavement, thousands of Novopskov residents are now scattered around the world, but remain a united home front. They learn and gain experience that will be important in rebuilding the community after the liberation of their territory.

From the first days of the occupation of the Novopskov land, the russian occupiers were actively taking out utility machinery and equipment from schools and hospitals, while bringing tons of propaganda literature into the territory… However, the local residents of the community believe in victory and that the flag of Ukraine will once again flutter over their native home.

After February 24, 2022, processes took place in the economy of the Community that have a negative impact on its socio-economic and financial condition. These are restrictions caused by marital law and temporary occupation of the territory of the Community.

The full-scale invasion and temporary occupation of the Community led to the loss of human potential, the termination of small and medium-sized businesses, and the relocation of businesses.

After the de-occupation of the Community, it is important to unite efforts to restore and develop the economic potential, overcome the consequences of the armed aggression of the russian federation and create conditions for increasing the vitality and capacity of the population.

Maryna Bohun is the founder of the NGO “Zrostay” (Eng. “Grow”), the project “Vsuperech” (Eng. “Contrary to”) and the implementer of various projects in support of the Luhansk region. Maryna Bohun comes from Novopskov. Although she moved to Kyiv in 2011, she devoted her life and entrepreneurial path to her native land – the Luhansk region.

During the russian-Ukrainian war, Maryna decided to support her compatriots, so she directed all her cultural and business projects on them and the Luhansk region. For example, she founded the NGO “Zrostay” in 2022. Within the scope of its activities, assistance was provided to the Ukrainian army and to displaced persons.

The woman implemented the projects “Stationery sets” and “Packages for babies” for families from the Luhansk region.

Supporting women in wartime is a priority for Maryna. In order to help female entrepreneurs from Luhansk region to start their own business, the woman from Novopskov created the project “Vsuperech”. She notes that it “provides for the creation of a community of women which will take care of the development of female leadership, the search for opportunities, mutual support and assistance. The project involves holding events, sharing experiences and communication in the city of Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine.”

Maryna Bohun: “When you are passionate about your work, you have no reason to be tired or burnt out. This activity and mutual support, on the contrary, give me energy. For my part, I and my team are doing everything to help the country’s economy. This is our contribution to Victory.”

People of the Community

Mykola Startsev was appointed the head of the Novopskov Settlement Military Administration in 2022. Since then, he left the 113th Territorial Defense Brigade and began to take care of the community’s problems.

Mykola Startsev calls housing for displaced people the most important problem. Therefore, the administration concluded a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Borodianka Settlement Council of the Kyiv Region, which has a modular town. Thus, all Novopskov settlers who needed free accommodation now have comfortable living conditions.

Community workers in different parts of Ukraine work in humanitarian hubs of the Luhansk region: they advise and provide administrative services, organize activities for displaced people from the Luhansk region and provide humanitarian aid.

Together with the Severodonetsk District State Administration, the Novospkovska Administration ensures the functioning of the Coordination Center for Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons from the Luhansk Region in the Ivano-Frankivsk Region.

Mykola Startsev: “I believe that I will return home, there is no other option. We all want to go home and rebuild that life. We all know that in the last 5 years there was prosperity in all communities. We saw how roads, kindergartens, and schools were being repaired. Everything was leading to life improvement, but then the occupier came… I believe in the Victory of Ukraine. We are preparing to work on the de-occupied territory of the community. We will rebuild with those people who will return, who did not cooperate there. It will be difficult, but how else could it be?”

Development Strategy

The community has approved a development strategy until 2025.

The strategic goals of the community include:

1. To promote business development and investment attraction (to create an active dialog platform with entrepreneurship; establish new partnerships; create a Business Center to provide services to entrepreneurs; create a favorable business climate and infrastructure; create an open catalog of real estate assets – vacant land plots for “greenfields”, “brownfields”, vacant premises; to attract investments and additional financial resources; to develop agriculture)
2. To develop infrastructure and improve the provision of quality services (to create energy-efficient infrastructure; implement effective energy management and energy monitoring; implement electronic governance)
3. To develop a tourism cluster based on health improvement; to create green tourism estates.

The main directions for cooperation include:

• Professional development of educators and improvement of the infrastructure of school premises
• Reconstruction and modernization of residential and communal facilities
• Joint projects in the field of energy efficiency and ensuring energy independence

List of Sources

• Tribune article dated August 3, 2023. Mykola Startsev: The main problem of the displaced people is housing
• Article “Eastern Option” dated April 23, 2024. “We started by helping families from Novopskov”: how the NGO “Zrostay” helps children and women from the Luhansk region 
• Website of the Novopskov Settlement Military Administration. Section “International partners”
• Site of Novopskovskaya SVA. Section “Program of socio-economic development” 
• Website of the Novopskov Settlement Military Administration. Section “Strategy” 
• Official Facebook page of the Novopskov Settlement Military Administration 
• Wikipedia
• The Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning — Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Portal zakon.rada.gov.u (Decree on the appointment of M.S. Startsev)