village of Memryk

Reference information

The village of Memryk (until 1919 - Memyk) has a unique heritage. It was founded in 1885 by German Mennonite settlers who arrived from the Molochansk colonies. The colonists brought with them a high culture of agriculture, crafts and a special architectural style. In Soviet times, the Kalinin collective farm operated here, and the main areas of the economy were grain growing and dairy farming.

History

As a result of the administrative-territorial reform, Memryk became part of the Novogrodivsk urban-territorial community (Pokrovsky district, Donetsk region) as the center of the Memryk starostyn district. The Memryk starostyn district includes: the village of Memryk (the center of the district); the village of Kalynove.

Population

During Soviet times and in the early 2000s, the village had a population of about 350–400 people. As of 2001 (All-Ukrainian census): 398 people (the vast majority were Ukrainians, but there were also Russians and descendants of German families). On the eve of the full-scale invasion (2021–2022): The total number of residents of the Memrytsky Starostynsky District (Memryt + Kalynove) was about 500–550 people (directly in the village of Memryt — about 350–380 people).

Due to active hostilities and forced evacuation, the absolute majority of the civilian population left the settlement.

Education, medicine, culture

Before the start of active hostilities, children from the village of Memryk studied at secondary schools in the Novogrodiv community (in particular, in schools in neighboring settlements or with organized transportation to schools in the city of Novogrodivka), and also received education in a distance learning format.

Primary medical care was provided through the Memryk medical assistant and obstetrician station (FAP) and the network of the municipal non-profit enterprise “Center for Primary Medical and Sanitary Assistance” of the Novogrodiv City Council.

A local club/house of culture operated in the village, which served as a center for village holidays, meetings of the active group, and cultural and educational events. Special attention in the community was paid to preserving the memory of the German heritage of the founding of the village.

Modernity

In 2024, as a result of the active advance of Russian troops in the Pokrovsky direction, the village of Memryk found itself in a zone of intense fighting and artillery shelling. At the end of August 2024, the village was temporarily occupied by Russian troops.

The housing stock, social infrastructure and communication facilities of the village suffered significant damage.