Sokyriany Territorial Community

History

According to materials of archaeological expeditions, the first settlements in the Sokyriany area appeared with the onset of human civilization. A dwelling made of mammoth bones turned out to be a valuable find. It belonged to the times of the so-called Mousterian culture – the archaeological culture of the Middle Paleolithic (Early Stone Age). Thanks to this find, the Molodove site (a village that was moved in connection with the construction of the Dniester HPP) became known throughout the world. Remains of residential buildings, flint tools, and hunting weapons were also found here.

The first mention of Sokyriany area dates back to the 16th century, when Ottoman troops invaded Moldova and Bukovyna. The peasants, fleeing from Turkish enslavement, fled to the forests. Legends say that people came with axes to clear a place for housing, and they were called “axemen”, Ukrainian “sokyriany”, and then the settlement got the same name. The main occupation of the inhabitants was cattle breeding, agriculture and handicrafts.

Since 1770, Sokyriany became a center of trade. In 1864, an elementary school for children of wealthy citizens was opened in Sokyriany. And at the late 19th – early 20th century, a small butter factory and two primitive enterprises for the production of mineral and fruit waters appeared. Also, the wood processing industry began to develop. Later, the first private pharmacy was opened and at the beginning of 1917, two zemstvo schools and a gymnasium were already operating in Sokyriany.

In January 1918, Soviet power was proclaimed in the Sokyriany area, and the confiscation of landowners’ lands began. In November 1918, Bessarabia, including the Sokyriany area, was occupied by Austro-German troops, hence – royal Romania.

In 1959, a mining enterprise started working in the local dungeon. It extracted stone – shell and limestone sand. Also, a branch of the Kolomny Locomotive Plant took a significant place among the enterprises of the district.

In 1977, the construction of the Dniester HPP and the town of Novodnistrovsk began on the territory of the district. The first hydro unit of the Dniester HPP was launched in December 1981, the last – in 1983. The Dniester HPP complex currently includes the Dniester HPP-2 and the Dniester Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Power Plant, which is still under construction and is unique not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe.

In 2015 with the passing of the decentralization process, the Sokyriany urban territorial community was formed, consisting of two population centers – the town of Sokyriany and the village of Kobolchyn. The area of the community was 82.16 km2 and the population was 10,987 people.

Economy and Welfare

There are more than 1,500 economic entities of various forms of ownership on the territory of the community. Of them, more than 1,000 are private entrepreneurs and 20 are agricultural and industrial enterprises. Usually, these are small enterprises with up to 25 employees.

Most of the enterprises are engaged in agriculture, woodworking, forestry, processing of agricultural products, mining, energy, catering, and hotel services.

The ENERGIA BUKOVINY industrial park was registered and started on the territory of the community.

The community is an investment-attractive area and has at its disposal a significant number of land plots that may interest potential investors in the short- and medium-term perspective.

Tourism takes a significant part of the community’s economic development. The Sokyriany community may be interesting for its cultural heritage – Halytsia St. Nicholas Male Monastery and the Three Log Wooden Dmytriy Church.

A tourist complex and six recreation centers are located along the banks of the Dniester River.

Tourists may also be interested in museums. The Historical Museum, Memorial Museum, Pottery Museum and Forest Museum function on the territory of the community. A well-developed sector of the hotel and restaurant business with 65 facilities proves the potential for the development of the community’s economy based on tourism.

The field of education works effectively in the Sokyriany community. There are 19 general secondary education institutions, 7 preschool education institutions, 2 children’s and youth sports schools, and an inclusive education center operating on the territory of the community.

Considerable attention is paid to children with special educational needs who receive psychological-pedagogical and correctional services in educational institutions.

The health care industry in the community is represented by the following institutions: 15 paramedics and midwives, 14 outpatient clinics of general practice of family medicine, 1 polyclinic and 2 hospitals.

The community has 24 libraries, 9 cultural centers, 3 leisure facilities and 6 centers of folk art, 4 thematic museums and 7 public museums, 2 schools of aesthetic education.

An international Judo tournament among young men is held annually on the territory of the community.

There are many sports grounds for various sports and football fields.

Community and War

From the first days of the war, the residents of the Sokyriany urban territorial community actively joined the ranks of the defenders of the Motherland against Russian aggression. Residents helped organize fortifications, set up places for internally displaced persons, helped with food.

But soon, taking into account the fact that the Sokyriany community is far from the war zone, it took an active humanitarian position – a hub for receiving, redistributing and sending humanitarian aid to the affected communities in the eastern part of Ukraine was organized.

A parallel line of work, which receives considerable attention in the community, is assistance to internally displaced persons. In the first months after the beginning of the war with Russia, the community had more than 4,200 internally displaced persons, and today 841 internally displaced persons live permanently in the community. A shelter for IDPs was built with the funds of the community and charitable funds, and capital repairs were carried out in apartments for specialist doctors with IDP status. In general, the community has already equipped separate housing and conditions for long-term residence of 90 people, and the repair work of the following premises for residence continues.

Today, more than 2,000 residents of the community defend Ukraine in the ranks of the Armed Forces, and unfortunately, in 2 years, the Russian-Ukrainian war has already claimed the lives of 97 of them. The Sokyriany community is trying to actively support the defenders – by handing them thermographic weapon sights, drones, all-terrain vehicles, fuel and lubricants, and financial assistance to military units.

Since the beginning of the war, the community has handed technical equipment, materials and ammunition costing over UAH 2.6 million to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as material aid in the amount of UAH 5.1 million.

People of the Community

In 2023, thanks to the cooperation of residents, businesses and community leaders, about 80 vehicles were purchased, which were overhauled by local service stations and sent to the war zone. Of them, 15 high-terrain vehicles were purchased with the funds collected by the employees of the Sokyriany Town Council.

Residents of starosta-headed districts organize events in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – they sang carols to support their fellow villager defenders who are currently serving in the zone of active hostilities.

In addition, the residents of the community make trenches and candles, weave camouflage nets, prepare baked goods and various dishes for the army men who at this time lack the comfort of home, so student and teaching teams join in the work.

Development Strategy

In 2021, the Sokyriany Town Council approved the Development Strategy of the Sokyriany Community until 2027 and the plan for its implementation until 2024 .

The main strategic areas of community development are defined as follows:

1. Ensuring conditions for sustainable and safe development of the community’s agro-industrial complex:

• creation of conditions for the development and safety of agricultural production, processing of agricultural products and their preservation;
• inventory and rational use of agricultural lands;
• development of animal husbandry, fishing and beekeeping.

2. Creation of favorable conditions for the development of business, industry and investment attraction:

• development of small and medium-sized businesses;
• attraction of investments in the development of priority industries (raw materials processing, mineral extraction, energy);
• development of the tourist potential of the community.

3. Improvement of living comfort, safety and environment in the community:

• development of community transport infrastructure;
• modernization of the utilities infrastructure of the community;
• increasing safety and security in the community;
• improving the quality of municipal services in the community;
• increasing accessibility to a diverse cultural environment;
• development of a network of sports and social facilities in the community.

List of Sources

• Official website of the Sokyriany Town Council – Sokyrianya-gromada.gov.ua
• The official Facebook page of the Town Council – facebook.com/sokmiskrada