Stepantsi Territorial Community

History

The territory of the modern Stepantsi Community was settled long before our era. During the Cimmerian invasion, there were settlements here, traces of which can still be found on the surrounding hills. One of the most famous historical artefacts is the Martynivka Treasure of the VI-VII centuries, a collection of gold and silver women’s jewellery, including fibules with images of people and horses. Today, 92 items of this treasure are kept in museums in Kyiv, and another 23 are in the British Museum in London.

In 1909, another treasure dating back to the sixth century was found in the village of Martynivka. It consisted of numerous women’s jewellery, fasteners and household items, most of which were made by local craftsmen, although there are also Byzantine items. The story of the first treasure is particularly interesting: it was found on the lands of Count Dariusz Poniatowski and was considered his property. When the count fled to London to escape the tsarist authorities, he took the treasure with him.

Dariusz Poniatowski, a descendant of the Polish royal dynasty, built a sugar factory in Martynivka in 1852. Later, it became the property of the Russian aristocrats Buturlin and Prince Yurchakov, and later of the famous Ukrainian sugar producer Fedir Tereshchenko. In 1869, the plant employed 310 workers under the leadership of French director Poudron. Thanks to the development of industry, Martynivka turned into a significant settlement: in 1900, there were already 1910 residents.

The Stepantsi Community is also associated with famous historical figures. Ludwik Warinski (1856-1889), a leader of the Polish revolutionary socialist movement, was born and spent his childhood here. In 1882, he founded the first Polish labour party, the Proletariat, and later died in the Schlisselburg fortress. A monument was erected in his honour in the community.

The residents of Tahancha village took an active part in the liberation movements. They fought in the peasant and Cossack uprisings led by Pavliuk, Skydan, and Huni (1637-1638), opposed the Polish gentry during the National Liberation War, and participated in the Haidamak uprising called the Koliivshchyna.

In the late eighteenth century, Tahancha became the property of Polish magnates Poniatowski. In 1805, he founded a cloth factory, one of the largest in Ukraine in terms of production. In addition, he had a large tannery whose products were supplied to Kyiv, Volyn and Kherson provinces. In 1846, it was Yosyp Poniatowski who built the first sugar factory in Ukraine in the village of Potashnia, launching a new era of sugar production on Ukrainian lands.

Today, the Stepantsi Community is an actively developing territory that combines historical heritage with modern opportunities. Local initiatives and international projects are improving infrastructure, modernising the agricultural sector, and creating new educational and cultural spaces. The community is open to European partnership and actively implements environmental and social initiatives, making the lives of its residents more comfortable and promising.

Economy and Welfare

The Stepantsi Community has a significant economic potential, focused on agricultural production and poultry farming. The key budget-forming enterprises of the community are PrJSC ‘Myronivska Ptakhofabryka’, agricultural company ‘Zapovit Shevchenka’ and LLC ‘Naukovo-Vyrobnycha Firma ‘Urozhay’. Their activities ensure sustainable community development, create new jobs and strengthen the local economy.

To support investors and attract new businesses, the community has created an information database of available production sites, which facilitates business relocation and entrepreneurship development.

Utility companies are actively operating in the community, providing quality services to residents. 

Effective governance, support for small and medium-sized businesses, and the development of social initiatives make the community a comfortable place to live and work, open to new opportunities and partnerships.

The Community and the War

With the onset of full-scale military aggression, residents of the Stepantsi Community rallied to defend their homes, help the military and support those in need.

All structural units of the village council promptly restructured their work, and the community residents – from small to large – became volunteers, philanthropists and defenders of the country.

On the initiative of the village head Oleksandr Yaremenko, which was unanimously supported by the local council, important programmes were adopted in the early days of the war that allowed the community to respond effectively to the challenges of wartime. In particular, significant resources were allocated to support the families of military personnel, internally displaced persons, territorial defence units and military units. In 2024 alone, more than UAH 15 million was allocated for this purpose, and since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the total amount of assistance has reached UAH 22.5 million.

However, financial support is only part of the community’s efforts. Thanks to the concern of local residents, business representatives, employees of executive bodies and utilities, more than 40 charity drives were organised to support the needs of the military. The money was used to purchase vehicles, thermal imagers, anti-drone guns and other critical equipment worth about UAH 7 million. This assistance was a significant contribution to the common cause of defending the country.

In addition to financial support, the community is actively involved in volunteer initiatives: local residents weave camouflage nets, make trench candles, help evacuated families and take care of wounded soldiers. The Stepantsi Community continues to live, work and fight for the future, bringing victory closer every day.

Community People

Oleksandr Yaremenko has been leading the Stepantsi Community since its establishment, focusing on its development, modernisation and support of residents in difficult times. Under his leadership, the community is actively working to improve infrastructure, attract investment and create comfortable living and working conditions for residents.

Important areas included the development of utilities and the provision of quality services in the areas of public amenities, transport and culture. An efficient village utility company, Blahoustrii, takes care of cleanliness and order, landscaping, maintains lighting networks, and keeps public spaces clean. The utility company STEP-AGROBUD improves the passenger transport system, providing stable transport links between settlements.

Special attention is paid to the development of culture and sports. The Centre for Culture and Leisure organises events and supports local traditions, while the Rosava Sports Club engages young people in active lifestyles and sports achievements. Social protection is provided by the Social Service Centre, which supports vulnerable categories of residents.

Social projects are also being implemented during the war. As a result of hostilities, Soroka’s family orphanage, which raises seven children, was forced to move from the Dnipro region to the village of Horobiivka, where it found support in the Stepantsi Community. 

Thanks to winning the “Chas Diiaty, Kanivshchyno” microgrant competition from the “MHP-Hromadi” Foundation and receiving UAH 212,000 in funding, the orphanage was renovated and the heating and water supply system was installed. In addition, the family received furniture and appliances from the Olena Zelenska Foundation, and the community purchased a new bus for the children’s convenient access to school. The end of the project was marked by a meeting of community representatives and philanthropists to discuss further steps for the family’s adaptation.

The Stepantsi Community cares about its defenders, creating conditions for their adaptation and recovery after returning from the war. One of these important projects was the ReHAB Adaptive Club, a space for physical rehabilitation, communication and social integration of veterans and people with disabilities. The Stepantsi Community became one of two communities in the region that received funding to create an adaptive space for veterans. This is an important step towards supporting servicemen coming back after being injured and helping them integrate into civilian life.

The Stepantsi Community is not resting on its laurels, but continues to move forward, implementing new initiatives and strengthening its economic and social stability.

Development Strategy

The Strategic Development Plan of the Stepantsi Territorial Community for 2019-2025 is the result of active cooperation between the authorities, business and residents, which allowed not only to identify the main challenges but also to outline realistic ways to overcome them. The main goal is to create comfortable living, working and recreational conditions by developing the local economy, improving infrastructure and supporting social initiatives.

Key areas of development:

Economic growth: Supporting small and medium-sized businesses, attracting investment, and creating conditions for the relocation of enterprises.

Modern infrastructure: Repair and construction of roads, renovation of water supply and sewerage networks, development of transport links.

Energy independence: Introducing energy-efficient technologies and using alternative energy sources.

Social sector: Improving educational and healthcare services, supporting vulnerable groups, developing sports and cultural infrastructure.

Environmental safety: Preserving natural resources, upgrading the waste management system, and greening the territories.

The implementation of the strategy is based on a partnership between the community, government and international institutions, which allows for the use of modern approaches to local development. The vision of the Stepantsi Community’s future is embodied in the slogan: ‘The Stepantsi Amalgamated Community of Cherkasy Oblast is a hospitable community with new traditions and great ambitions’.

Sources

• Official website of the Stepantsi Community stepanecka-gromada.gov.ua
• Facebook page of the Stepantsi Community facebook.com
• Website: msbud.com
• Yevhen Slyva. The Martynivka Treasure.
• Website: Historical and Genealogical Archive of Ukraine