Tsuman Territorial Community

Volyn`
Population:

The Tsuman settlement territorial community is located in the west of Ukraine.

The community’s population amounts as of January 1, 2023 was 18,247 people.

Also, 193 internally displaced persons live in the community, including 88 women, 62 children, and 4 persons with disabilities.

The Tsuman community consists of 16 population centres: the settlement of Tsuman which is the community’s centre and 15 rural units

History

The community centre is the urban-type settlement of Tsuman. Its name originates from the ancient time distant southern steppes, where the warlike Polovtsian hordes (called “Cumans” in Rus) roamed in the 12th and 13th centuries. Historians proved that the name “Cumans” was transferred to Volyn after a successful campaign of Kievan Rus warriors against the Polovtsians. Captives of that campaign were settled on the site of the modern settlement, which was then called Cuman. Tsuman was first mentioned in historical sources in 1557.  

Tsuman was the property of Prince Radziwill in 1583. There were 2 mills and 5 ore mines producing bog iron ore here at that time. The population of Tsuman was engaged in farming, cattle breeding, tar-distilling, carpentry, cooperage, and the manufacture of household goods for personal use and sale.

The Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church Source

The community also has the Lopaten Historical and Natural Museum Complex located in the Tsuman Forests. This picturesque place with the rich history is a specific symbol of the partisan movement. The large memorial complex consists of  the museum, memorial alley and mound. There are also dugouts used for various purposes: headquarters, military hospital, operating room, and commander’s platoon. 

Landscapes of the Lopaten Historical and Natural Museum Complex
Landscapes of the Lopaten Historical and Natural Museum Complex Source

The Tsuman community is a part of the 150 km long historical and cultural eco-route marked according to international mapping standards. It runs through the territories of neighbouring communities of the Volyn and Rivne regions. It is suitable for car travel, cycling and hiking.

 Lypne village - St. Michael's Church, built of wood in 1770.
Lypne village - St. Michael's Church, built of wood in 1770. Source

Economy and Welfare

The “Tsuman” Woodworking Enterprise is more than 100 years old. The company began its modern history in 1996 with the use of the latest technologies for the production of peeled and slice veneer. Today, the products of the “Tsuman” Enterprise are known both in Ukraine and internationally. 

"Tsuman" Enterprise

The community has a successful family business of growing organic agricultural. Its founder, Halyna Pushkar, and her family have been growing organic berries (raspberries, strawberries, currants, red currants) and potatoes for five years. 

Halyna Pushkar, a business woman engaged in growing organic agricultural products
Halyna Pushkar, a business woman engaged in growing organic agricultural products Source

Community and War

Unfortunately, the war made certain irreparable impacts on the community’s development. The implementation of several projects was suspended. Many community residents joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend their country with the beginning of the full-scale invasion. 

The centre for collecting humanitarian aid for Ukrainians in the Armed Forces has been operating in the community since the beginning of the war. The aid is sent weekly to different parts of Ukraine, even to the places where the military operations are ongoing. The community, initiative citizens and volunteers provide all the necessary supplies (ammunition, clothing, hygiene, food, and other essential items).

Almost everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, is engaged in this activity.

St. Andrew's Evenings (a charity event organized by the Tsuman Children and Youth Creativity Centre, the raised money was donated to meet the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces)
St. Andrew's Evenings (a charity event organized by the Tsuman Children and Youth Creativity Centre, the raised money was donated to meet the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces) Source

Simultaneously, the community is renovating a former school building to provide long-term accommodation for internally displaced persons. 

More than 200 families of Ukrainian defenders received firewood at the beginning of the heating season.

The community has sheltered more than 1,500 people since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, and currently hosts about 200 people. 

The community has the very active volunteer movement. Various charity sales are organized here. There is a social shop where internally displaced persons and people with low incomes can get food kits, clothes, hygiene products, and bed linen.

The social store
The social store

Community members organize the production of baked products, canned food, and trench candles. 

Making trench candles.
Making trench candles. Source

Head of the Community

Anatoliy Doroshuk was elected for the first time in 2015 – then as the Head of the Tsuman Settlement Council with the population of over 7,000 people. Now he is the head of the settlement with population of 18,014. He mainly focuses his activities on improving the living standards of citizens.

Anatoliy Doroshuk, Head of the Tsuman Settlement Council
Anatoliy Doroshuk, Head of the Tsuman Settlement Council

During Anatolii Doroshuk’s term of office, a number of important infrastructure projects were implemented. Thus, the community became a participant of Round 3 in the “U-LEAD with Europe” Programme. The project helped to receive furniture, equipment and hardware for normal operation of the Administrative Services Centre, which was located on the 3rd floor of the administrative building at that time. Today, the Administrative Services Centre is a modern, spacious, open-space area with a modern interior and technology. Specialists were also trained within the programme. Currently, the Administrative Services Centre of the Tsuman Settlement Council serves both residents of local and neighbouring communities, providing about 200 services. People can receive social services, declare place of their residence, register their property rights, and, since recently, get passport services.

Administrative Services Centre
Administrative Services Centre

Also, an outpatient general family medicine clinic was built in the community. It offers service for the residents of the Tsuman community, and also of the neighbouring ones.

The Outpatient General Family Medicine
The Outpatient General Family Medicine

Three kindergartens in the community villages were repaired. A project for reconstruction of the purification facilities was implemented. And all of this is just a small part of the accomplished work.

The community took part in the German-Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Dialogue project.

The community took part in the German-Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Dialogue project
The community took part in the German-Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Dialogue project
"We are successful as undertake to do things that are impossible and try to make them possible." – says Anatoliy Doroshuk.

Development Strategy

The community development strategy as a conceptual document, which includes a vision of the future based on the present, is currently under preparation. The main strategic goals, considering the community’s potential, are related to the infrastructure development. This will improve economic growth and raise the living standards in the community. 

The main priority tasks are:

  • Building, reconstruction and overhaul of communal roads with the arrangement of pedestrian sidewalks, bicycle paths and lighting;
  • Construction of a modern “Eco-settlement” (to provide IT workers with an opportunity of living in an environmentally friendly area with modern technological solutions);
  • Building of a modern rehabilitation centre;
  • Reconstruction of community stadiums with the installation of outdoor training equipment to promote a healthy lifestyle among the population;
  • Implementation of waste sorting (installation of a sorting line, if possible);
  • Building of power stations using alternative energy sources;
  • Creation of modern ecological routes through the picturesque places of the community.
The meeting of the working group
The meeting of the working group

List of Sources

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