Zorivka Territorial Community

History

The Zorivka Community was established on 25 December 2015 through the merger of the Vershyna-Zharska, Leninske (Bohdanivka), Mekhedivka village councils, and the Zorivka Village Council of Zolotonosha Raion. From 12.06.2020, the Kryvonosivka and Lukashivka village councils of Zolotonosha Raion were included in the community.

The Zorivka Community is characterised by steppe nature with a large number of wild plants. The community’s terrain is flat, allowing for various agricultural activities. The community is dominated by highly productive typical chornozems, as well as light clays. Over 99% of the territory is occupied by agricultural lands.

The first mentions of Zorivka appeared in the second half of the 17th century. The village got its name from the surname of the first settler, Cossack Zoria (Davyd). The village council was formed in 1922.

In 1974, during the enlargement of collective farms, the “Komunist” collective farm was joined by the “50-richchia Zhovtnia” collective farm of Drabiv District, and the village of Cherneshchyna was added to the Zorivka Village Council. A settlement of serfs transferred to monastery ownership. The name of the village derives from belonging to nuns, mentioned in 1859.

The first mentions of Kryvonosivka appear in 1719 as an ancient Cossack settlement.

The village of Mekhedivka was founded by the wealthy Cossack Tymko Mekheda at the end of the 18th century. In 1923, the Mekhedivka Village Council was formed.

The village of Bohdanivka stretches across the former lands of landlord Kublytskyi. These were primarily pastures, as the farm focused on livestock farming.

In 1924, a state farm with three branches was established on these lands. In the 1950s, the Krasenivskyi branch of the state farm was opened. In the 1960s the state farm, previously part of Chornobaivskyi Raion, was joined to Drabiv Raion. In 1990, at the community’s initiative, branches 1 and 2 of the state farm were renamed to the village of Leninske and the settlement of Radhospne.

On 20 August 2015 2015, the Drabiv Raion Council decided to rename the village of Leninske to Bohdanivka and the settlement of Radhospne to Kvitneve.

The village of Vershyna-Zharska The first name of the village was Khorunzhivka (18th century), in honour of landlord Khorundzhyi, who owned the lands. From 1917, the name changed to Vershyna-Zharska village. The name derives from the Zhar River – the upper tributary of the Dnipro, which originated and flowed through the village.

The village of Lukashivka was founded in the second quarter of the 18th century by Luka (Lukash) Vahylevych. The first written mention dates back to 1732 as “Slobidka Lukashivka.” The village appears on the 1816 map. An original monument of wooden architecture has been preserved in the village – the Mykhailivska Church.

Khrushchivka emerged in the first half of the 17th century as a Cossack village. According to legends, the village got its name from the first settler — Cossack Stepan Khrushch. The settlement was assigned to the Mykhailivska Church in Lukashivka. The settlement appears on the 1800 map.

Economy and Welfare

The presence of the most fertile soil – chornozem – and flat terrain determine the activities of households – growing agricultural products and breeding cattle.

In total, 14 enterprises and 12 individual entrepreneurs operate in the community.

The largest enterprises in the community are “Nyva” and “Peremoha,” specialising in growing grain and legume crops, as well as breeding cattle.

In 2009, with the support of “Nyva” director Vasyl Lysenko, the Sviato-Mykolaivskyi Temple was built in Zorivka village.

In the centre of Zorivka village, there is a playground for relaxation, featuring a beautiful fountain and a sculptural composition.

Currently, the community operates a general education school, an educational complex, and 3 preschool institutions. In addition to mastering exact and natural sciences in the community’s educational institutions, special attention is paid to sports and children’s spiritual development.

Medical services for residents are provided by the non-profit communal enterprise Mekhedivska General Practice Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic, which includes 5 paramedic posts and one outpatient department.

Cultural centres operate in every settlement of the community.  The “Prydany” group from Vershyna-Zharska village has held the title of folk ethnographic group since 1983.

Two gyms are also open in the community, equipped with new exercise machines, with a full-time trainer. Zorivka participates in the All-Ukrainian project “Active Parks,” regularly holding sports activities involving people of different generations.

The Community and the War

From the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, dozens of military-eligible men from the community stood to defend the borders of their native land. Currently, over a hundred community residents serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Unfortunately, a new location has appeared in the community that brings pain and sorrow – the Alley of Memory for fallen Defenders. Here, 17 portraits of deceased fellow villagers – Heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine – are placed.

The population and businesses have been providing financial and material assistance to Ukrainian defenders and frontline territories since the first days of the war. School students on an ongoing basis weave shading nets, make trench candles and energy bars for soldiers, and collect plastic for prosthetics. Fundraising campaigns for aiding the Armed Forces of Ukraine are held in the community’s settlements.

People of the Community

Since 2025, the community has been led by the secretary of the village council, Olha Kovalenko, as the head resigned. Together with the deputy village head, Yurii Hunko, who has twenty years of leadership experience in local self-government bodies, they have created an effective team. 

Priority areas of work for the local council are financial and material assistance to Ukraine’s defence sector; modernisation of educational institution premises; equipping shelters in them; repair of transport infrastructure.

The Zorivka community joined the All-Ukrainian initiative “Gardens of Victory” from the beginning of the war and approved the Programme to Support Self-Sufficiency with Food Products for 2022-2024.

Accordingly, over 5 hectares of plots were planted in the community, and through joint efforts in 2022, the harvest was collected. Vegetables were used for the community’s food reserve and assistance to IDPs, educational institutions, vulnerable populations, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, healthcare institutions, etc. In 2023, students of Zorivka school installed warm beds and gained their own experience in growing plants in wooden structures. Biology lessons were enriched with new practical activities, and the school kitchen with tasty salad.

Development Strategy

The community’s strategic vision: The Zorivka Territorial Community is a modern, European, developed community with democratic values, quality and comfortable living conditions for residents, with a competitive economy and open government. 

Community’s strategic goals:

1. Economic Development, which envisages attracting international support and creating conditions for efficient entrepreneurship in settlements.
2. Human Capital Development, which includes improving the provision of educational, medical, and management services for Zorivka community residents.
3. Increasing Community Resilience – this strategic goal is largely shaped by the war in our country. Creating safe living conditions in the community based on inclusivity and accessibility, forming community cooperation – main tasks of this goal.

Sources

• Official website of the Zorivka Village Council zorivska-gromada.gov.ua
• Facebook page of the Zorivka Community facebook.com
• Facebook page Ridna Shkola facebook.com/groups