How Opishnia Shatters Stereotypes About the Provinces and Forges Ukraine’s Future During the War

The program "Holos Hromady" (Voice of the Community) — a joint project of the "Hromada Group" local media network and the Kharkiv Press Club — revealed to us the unique story of Opishnia, a settlement in the Poltava region that proves: the scale of changes depends not on the size of the population, but on the scale of thinking.

The head of the Opishnia Settlement Territorial Community, Mykola Riznyk, is a leader of the new generation, whose conversation with journalist Oleksandr Shvets became a manifesto for the European future of the Ukrainian provinces.

The article, based on an interview with Mykola Riznyk, the head of the Opishnia community in the Poltava region, highlights how local governance can drive economic and cultural transformation even during wartime.

Opishnia has been nominated for the UN's The Best Tourism Village 2026 due to its efforts in preserving its historical pottery heritage and developing gastro-tourism.

Defying stereotypes about inefficient municipal enterprises, the community successfully launched "Opishnia-Agro" to model sustainable farming practices and "Opishnia Artil," which commercializes authentic ceramics for international markets.

The feature emphasizes how the decentralization reform empowered local leaders during the 2022 invasion, allowing for swift defense coordination and immediate financial support for the Armed Forces.

Furthermore, Opishnia reframes internally displaced persons (IDPs) as an economic asset rather than a burden, integrating them directly into the local workforce. Riznyk's long-term vision features a massive 800-million UAH veteran rehabilitation center, establishing a regional business school campus, and achieving total institutional transparency independent of political figures.

Read more in the Ukrainian edition....