Vilshanka Territorial Community

History

Vilshanka was founded in the middle of the 18th century when several families of Zaporizhzhia Cossacks headed by the Cossack Maslov settled here. That is why the sloboda used to be called Maslovo.

In 1774, about 400 families of Danube Bulgarians who took part in the Russian-Turkish war settled here. Later, the settlement merged with the sloboda and was named Vilshanka.

In the same year, the temple of St. John the Merciful was consecrated.

In the 19th century, Vilshanka received the status of a military settlement and was one of the strongholds on the border between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Crimean Khanate.

After the liquidation of military settlements, the village became the center of the parish in 1857.

The Horse Regiment of the Black Zaporozhets of the UNR Army stopped in Vilshanka during the Winter Campaign. 

Nowadays, the Vilshanka community is located in the center of Ukraine, and its residents are no less brave and freedom-loving.

There is a sports base for kayaking and canoeing in the community. A tourist route “Jewels of Syniukha” runs along the river coast. There are several hotel and entertainment complexes in the settlement.

The Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious (the Orthodox Church of Ukraine) is located on the territory of the community

Economy and Welfare

Tourism is one of the most promising branches of the economy of the Vilshanka Settlement Council. There are natural and climatic potential, picturesque landscapes, clean air, healing mineral waters, attractive tourist routes, preserved national traditions and folklore.

For the development of tour activities, not only tourist routes operate in the community, but also two museums. There are archaeological finds of exhibits from the Neolithic, flint and iron ages, Trypillian culture, Scythian culture, items and weapons from the times of Kyivan Rus.

The Vilshanka Center for Ukrainian-Bulgarian Culture is located on the territory of the community, which is the hallmark of cultural institutions of the Vilshanka community. Six collectives with the honorary title of “People’s Amateur Ensemble” work on its base, and festivals and events celebrating state, professional, and calendar holidays are held. Since the beginning of the russian aggression, events have been held in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Community and War

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Vilshanka community rallied to provide aid to the affected regions. Humanitarian aid was repeatedly provided here for the Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv directions.

Batteries were purchased and handed over to the 644th anti-aircraft machine gun battalion with the own funds of the employees of the Vilshanka Settlement Council, its structural divisions, enterprises, institutions and organizations.

The community’s socially responsible business together with the leadership team purchased a Mitsubishi L200 car, which was handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On the basis of the Vilshanka Center for Children’s and Youth Creativity, a volunteer center was created to help the military. Here they collect and deliver humanitarian aid to military units, collect funds for the needs of the military, and also weave nets.

People of the Community

The community is headed by Serhii Pyrozhenko.

The Vilshanka community cares about the preservation of intercultural heritage. Thematic festivals are held here. One of these is the settlement festival of national culture “Union of Hearts”. It is timed to the 250th anniversary of the resettlement of Bulgarians to the Vilshanka area.

There is a sports base for kayaking and canoeing on the bank of the river which was put into operation 30 years ago.

The base is named after Serhii Krytor, an honored coach of Ukraine in kayaking and canoeing who trained many masters of sports of both Ukrainian and international class.

Now the training is conducted under the leadership of his student – Maksym Prokopenko – master of sports of international class, silver medalist of the world championships in kayaking and canoeing , participant of the Olympic Games.

With the aim of national patriotic education of youth, the community created the Vilshanka Kurin named after Ihor Vladov.

Development Strategy

The Vilshanka Settlement Council approved the strategy of the Vilshanka Territorial Community for 2022-2027.

The community participates in various projects. One of these is “Community to the Fullest”, where the goal is to improve the ecological condition and ensure favorable living conditions for community residents by greening public spaces and planting trees, creating places for recreation and social interaction.

A program for the support and integration of internally displaced persons has been approved in the Vilshanka Settlement Council. This program is aimed at ensuring the basic needs of internally displaced persons, including in the social and economic sphere.

The development of the community is aimed at the development of entrepreneurship and tourism, agriculture, the creation of comfortable living conditions for residents and a safe environment, the introduction of energy-saving technologies, the ensuring of favorable conditions for the entry of domestic and foreign investments into the community.

The community is working on attracting investors and is open to new partnerships.

List of Sources

• Website of the Vilshanka Community – vilshsr.gov.ua
• Facebook page of the Vilshanka Settlement Council – facebook.com
• Facebook page of the Vilshanka Center for Ukrainian-Bulgarian Culture – facebook.com
• Facebook page of the Vilshanka Center for Children’s and Youth Creativity – facebook.com
• Wikipedia