Velyka Pysarivka Territorial Community

History

According to some sources, Velyka Pysarivka was founded in 1662, according to others, it was founded in 1709 by people from Trans-Dnipro Ukraine.

As evidenced by the remains of Bronze and Early Iron Age settlements and burial mounds found on a hill near the village of Oleksandrivka, the territory of modern Velyka Pysarivka was inhabited as far back as the 2nd-5th centuries.

During the Neolithic period (7th-5th centuries BC), the territory of the region was densely populated by hunting and fishing tribes. Many mounds remained from them, scattered throughout the territory of the former Velyka Pysarivka district. Only a few of them still remind us of the distant inhabitants of the region, who left behind graves that have stood for thousands of years.

On the sandy hills between the village of Luhivka and Pushkarska street (popular name “Pushkarka”), a site of primitive people was found. In the 30s of the 20th century, a settlement of primitive people was also excavated near the village of Lukashivka.

Small tools, earthenware, arrows, bronze spearheads, and ornaments were found here. On the territory of the community there is a monument to Yehor Khomych who is considered the last of the Ukrainian kobzars. A unique individual, blind since childhood, he led the life of a true singer and bandurist, moving from village to village and bringing culture to the masses. Thanks to his anti-fascist activities during the war, he was awarded a huge number of awards.

During the years of repression, he miraculously escaped death by not going to the “congress of folk singers”, where the Soviet authorities organized a mass shooting of cultural Ukrainian figures under the guise of a creative congress.

Economy and Welfare

The Velyka Pysarivka community is rich in fertile soils. Most of the inhabitants are engaged in the development of crop and animal husbandry.

There are large agricultural enterprises in the community that specialize in the cultivation of corn, soybeans, rapeseed, and sunflower. The plowed area is almost 63% of the community area which indicates a sufficiently high level of intensity of land use. 

There is a lyceum, two kindergartens and three hospitals on the territory of the settlement.

Pupils of the local lyceum always take part in sports competitions and are winners of various tournaments.

Community and War

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on the morning of February 24, 2022, at 4:35 a.m., Russian troops crossed the state border of Ukraine in the area of the Velyka Pysarivka checkpoint. Around 07:00, explosions reached the outskirts of the settlement, and around 08:00, two columns of Russian armored vehicles entered the settlement.

On February 28, the settlement was liberated by the 93rd separate mechanized brigade “Kholodny Yar”. Currently, the Velyka Pysarivka community suffers from shelling on a daily basis. During the hostilities, power plants, infrastructure, high-rise buildings and a large number of private houses were damaged.

Despite all the difficulties caused by daily shelling, the community is recovering and even developing local tourism. In order to reveal the identity of the region, a new division was created under the department of culture. Folk museums of honey, borscht and lard have been opened.

The invasion made adjustments to everyone’s daily life. We had to change plans and development directions and focus on energy independence and the security situation.

As part of the development strategy, it was planned to develop social routes. And we did it even despite the war. Now, four days a week, these routes operate through the community.                                  

People of the Community

Liudmyla Biryukova is Head of the community.

Together with the team, the Head attracts investments and supports local business and cultural initiatives.

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she did not leave the village, but began to develop evacuation routes, rallied the population, organized a humanitarian headquarters to collect warm things and food, and as soon as February 26, volunteers of the Velyka Pysarivka community brought first aid to the neighboring Okhtyrka community which was constantly affected by shelling.

Development Strategy

The Velyka Pysarivka settlement council has developed an updated community development strategy. The priority goals are the improvement of living conditions in the community and the development of tourism.

The main directions are the formation of an investment-active economic environment of the community, the development of the community’s infrastructure, the achievement of high standards of quality of life of the community’s population, and socially responsible local government open to everyone.

The community is open to investors who would like to develop their business here in the future.

List of Sources

• Official website of the Velyka Pysarivka Territorial Community. 
• Official Facebook page of the Velyka Pysarivka Territorial Community