Shchaslyve: Biographies and Peasant Life

Shchaslyve’s history brings together political events, personal lives, and peasant life. The place is associated with two very different biographies: Ivan Kocherzhenko was an active organiser of collectivisation and dekulakisation in four villages in Kirovohrad Oblast, including Shchaslyve. Mykhailo Hryhorovych Baisak, in turn, was born in the former village of Ovnyanka, now Shchaslyve. There are also records of customs, clothing, footwear, and food. These topics provide a concrete cultural starting point and help you explore the place’s history through both well-known figures and accounts of everyday life.

Biographies with Different Connections to the Place

A book published in 2025 covers Kocherzhenko’s role as an active organiser of collectivisation and dekulakisation. His activities involved four villages in Kirovohrad Oblast; Shchaslyve was one of them. This places the village within a regional historical context that extends beyond a single settlement. Anyone interested in Shchaslyve’s history can start with a specific person and the political events described in the book.

Baisak’s biography offers a different perspective. He was born in 1921 in the village then called Ovnyanka, now Shchaslyve. As a rear admiral, military official, writer, and honorary citizen of Shchaslyve, he is associated with several areas of life. The former and present-day place names link his birthplace to the village’s current identity. Together, the two biographies offer different perspectives: Kocherzhenko’s role relates to several villages, while Baisak’s birthplace is now called Shchaslyve.

Everyday Culture and Remembrance

The book «Ya vse chuv, vse bachyv» focuses on peasant customs, clothing, footwear, and food. It is based on records by Ivan Kocherzhenko, the village head of Shchaslyve at the time. Alongside the history of political events, it presents concrete aspects of everyday life. Its subjects range from customs to clothing and food, offering different points of interest if you would like to explore the village’s history before your trip.

Baisak’s legacy is also connected to a specific historical event. The relevant veterans’ and district authorities decided to install a memorial plaque to him on the school building in Shchaslyve. The decision cites his participation in the defence of Sevastopol in 1941–1942. It thus connects Baisak’s biography and birthplace with this historical event; however, the decision to install the plaque should not be taken as confirmation that it can be visited today.

A Hike in the Wider Region

The Popelnaste–Hramivka–Popelnaste route is in the wider region. It is a one-day hike with a walking time of five to six hours. Travel by car is envisaged for children and older people. The description thus distinguishes between the several-hour hike and the car journey for these groups. If you are considering this regional option, check the latest route information beforehand. The stated time range can help you decide whether to set aside a larger part of the day for it.

Discover more destinations: Kazarnya, Novomyrhorod, Kapitanivka, Oleksandriia, Dobrovelychkivka, Holovanivsk, Kutsevolivka, Velyka Vyska.

For the overview of the wider region: Kirovohrad Oblast.