Valky Territorial Community

History

The centre of the community, the town of Valky, is one of the ancient settlements of Slobidska Ukraine. There was a Scythian settlement in the territory of the present-day town as early as the middle of the 1st millennium B.C.

Traces of the primitive man’s life on the lands of the present-day Valky community date back to the end of the Early Palaeolithic (35 – 40 thousand years ago) as evidenced by the primitive tools found in the territory of the community.

It is supposed that the Perekip Rampart was built in the Scythian times. This defensive structure between the headwaters of the Kolomak and Mzha Rivers, crossing the infamous Moravian Way, at first protected Scythian farmers from invaders, and much later – the borders of the Muscovite state. It is likely that it was this rampart that gave its name to Valky, one of the earliest settlements in Slobidska Ukraine.

In 1665, the Ukrainian Cossacks, who became the owners of the fortress, moved Valky to its current location site on the left bank of the Turushka River, where it flows into the Mzha River.

In 1660 – 1768, Valky was a company hosting town of the Kharkiv Cossacks Regiment; in 1780 it became the centre of the district with its own coat of arms (three plums against a blue background as a symbol of developed horticulture).

After the October events of 1917, the Valky Bolsheviks attempted to declare their Soviet regime here, but the majority of the district council did not support them. Valky became Red Valky only in 1919, and in the spring of 1920, a large peasant uprising broke out against the new government, but was brutally suppressed.

Complete collectivization in the Valky area ended up with the devastating Holodomor, which killed more than a third of the district’s villagers.

There are 106 local cultural heritage landmarks in the territory of the Valky community, including 53 archaeological landmarks and 53 historical landmarks.

Economy and Welfare

One of the basic economic sectors of the Valky Territorial Community is agriculture. In 2022, 85 agricultural enterprises of various forms of ownership were involved in farming.

There are 82.9 thousand hectares of farming land being currently used.

The industrial sector of the Valky Territorial Community is represented by 8 enterprises.

Milk processing, butter and cheese production, ceramic brick production, sales of sunflower oil, manufacture of polymer products, production of paints and varnishes, production of cardboard, production of bakery products, manufacture of tools and equipment for measurement, research and navigation activities are actively developing in the territory of the community.

There are 15 institutions of general secondary education and 3 branches, including 14 lyceums, functioning in the community.

The preschool education network of the district consists of 17 preschool education institutions.

There are two out-of-school institutions functioning in the community: Valky House of Children’s and Youth Creativity and Centre for Tourism, Local History and Excursions of Pupils.

The community has 41 cultural centres, 14 clubs and 25 public libraries.

The community has three recreation centres, an Ezers camping site, a Yalynka children’s health camp.

Rural tourism sites include the Kozatskyi Dvir agro-village, the Verenia photo garden and the Homestead of Masters.

The collection of the Valky Local History Museum includes more than 13,000 exhibits that introduce Valky residents and community guests to the history, cultural and spiritual heritage, and natural treasures of the local area.

Tourism focuses on the implementation of the local project “One Hundred Villages – One Hundred Routes”.

Community and War

Due to the large-scale military invasion, many ambitious and promising community development projects had to be postponed.

Many residents of the Valky community defend Ukraine with weapons in their hands. And those who are in the rear are doing their best to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, providing shelter to 23,000 internally displaced persons received by the Valky community.

The Valky Town Council actively cooperates with many international charitable foundations and nongovernmental organizations. They include the Red Cross Society in Ukraine, the Polish Agrarian Association with the Word Food Program, the Austrian organization HILFSWERK INTERNATIONAL.

With the help of German partners, they organize humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons and local residents who need it; two social laundries have been organized as a result of joint efforts.

More than 10 volunteer groups actively work in the community providing assistance to the local population and supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The residents of the community regularly collect things, food, hygiene products, and medicines for the residents of the de-occupied territories and communities located in the war zone.

Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, the Valky community has remained a relatively safe area, and with sufficient infrastructure facilities, it is increasingly becoming a venue for cultural and sports events.

 People of the Community

The mayor of Valky, Valerii Skrypnichenko, was elected to the post of mayor for the first time at the extraordinary election held in September 2009.

He headed the Valky Town Council until November 2020. In October 2020, he was re-elected as Valky Town Mayor, and on 26 November 2020, according to the results of the Valky mayor election, he became the mayor of the Valky Territorial Community.

The top priorities of the mayor and his team include the development of the Valky Community as a successful, investment and tourist attractive community with comfortable living conditions.

The community actively participates in investment contests of various levels.

In 2022, one of the first projects to improve the living conditions of internally displaced persons was implemented in the Valky community. Title of the project: “Creation of a humanitarian HUB in the Valky community at the tourist centre in the village of Koviahy”. The Zminy Charitable Foundation has raised funds from German charitable organizations and sponsors, in particular from donor organization

Partnerschaftsverein Charkiw-Nuernberg e.v., Germany. The cost of the project is 50,000 euros.

As a result of winning the mini-grant contest “Independence Course” organized thanks to the cooperation of a Ukrainian business and a German development bank: Astarta-Kyiv agro industrial holding and DEG, a modern greenhouse will be built in the village of Vysokopillia, where jobs are going to be created for internally displaced persons.

In 2021, the project titled “Creation of a business incubator and a network of marketing agricultural service cooperatives in the territory of the Valky community” was implemented as a result of winning the regional competition of projects of the local and regional competition “Together in the Future”.

The Local Initiatives program is a platform for activists who seek real changes in the community and are ready to contribute to its development.

Development Strategy

Three strategic priorities form the basis of the Development Strategy of the Valky Urban Territorial Community until 2027: creating conditions for achieving sustainable economic growth of the community, ensuring a good ecological environment for the life and health of the population, preserving and developing rural areas.

The priority strategic tasks of the authorities include:

• implementation of the projects “Industrial Park “Land and Water”, “Sharivski Caribbean”, “Nove Selo”, “Open-air museum “Valkivska Ostrogotyka”; 
• development of projects and subsequent construction and repair of highways in the territory of the community, arrangement of modern roadside infrastructure, repair and construction of new sidewalks and bicycle paths;
• contribution to the development of weekend tourism and family recreation;
• reconstruction of the “Sonechko” park in the town of Valky with an inclusive zone;
• overhaul of the building of the Valky Youth Sports Centre “Sports for All”;
• overhaul of the Centre for Tourism, Local History and Student Excursions;
• arrangement of modern HUBs with computer equipment and access to the Internet at the rural libraries;
• introduction of a system of separate collection of household waste in the territory of the community.

In order to improve the investment appeal, ensure the economic development and increase the competitiveness of the territorial community, and intensify its investment activities, the community started implementing the project “Creation of the Industrial Park “Land and Water” in the Town of Valky” in 2021.

In order to boost the community’s tourist image, the implementation of the project “Regional Sports and Tourism Cluster “Sharivski Caribbean” was planned. The war has temporarily prevented this project from being implemented, but after the Victory this work will certainly continue.

A program for the development of the rural areas of the community titled Nove Selo (New Village) has been developed to ensure the community’s economic development, increase the competitiveness of the territorial community, increase its investment appeal, popularize and boost its image, and develop its rural areas.

List of Sources

• Official website of the Valky Urban Counci
• Official Facebook account