Kolodiazhne

Kolodiazhne (Ukrainian: Колодяжне) is a village in the Kovel Raion (district) in Volyn Oblast of northwestern Ukraine. It is located about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southeast of Kovel on the highway M-19.

Kolodiazhne Колодяжне
Village
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 51°10′42″N 24°48′03″E
Country	Ukraine
Province	Volyn Oblast
District	Kovel Raion
Village founded	1583
Government
• Village Head	Yaroslav Kushnyruk[1] (Batkivschyna)
Area
• Total	2,769 km^2 (1,069 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	178 m (584 ft)
Population
• Total	720
• Density	0.26/km^2 (0.67/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	45061
Area code	+380 3844
Website	http://rada.gov.ua/

History

Kolodiazhene was first mentioned as an important settlement in the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia since 1199; it was later a part of the Kievan Rus', which it joined in 1220 although the town was thought to have been settled by Vikings in the 900s who usurped the land from indigenous Slavs. The main occupations of the inhabitants were agriculture and animal husbandry.

As the town was situated near the growing power of the Kingdom of Poland, the inhabitants of the area fought against the Poles eastern expansion and it is thought that the name Kolodiazhne came from the Polish name for handcuffs which was Kajdany, although this was denied by the inhabitants who endured the attacks, some believed the name came down from Kolodka meaning a small log. Whatever the origins of the name, it stuck. The official date of today's town is listed as 1583, perhaps because of its records having being destroyed over the years.[1] The town was located on a transit route, which is why it was always fought over by various invaders. It is said that Napoleons Grand Army came through the area and at one point in its history it found itself situated right on the Eastern Front during World War 1. The area suffered greatly through both World Wars, especially during World War 2.

Notable residents

The town's most famous resident was the poet Lesya Ukrainka, who got ideas for, and wrote, some of her poems in the area. Today, there is a museum dedicated to Lesya Ukrainka in the village.[3]

Folk tales abound regarding everything from the area's famous muddy, marshy areas, to the various invasions over the centuries

Panoramic view of the Lesya Ukrainka museum in Kolodiazhne.

References

1. "Kolodiazhne (Volyn Oblast, Kovel Raion)". Regions of Ukraine and their Structure (in Ukrainian). Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
2. "Kolodiazhne (Volyn Oblast, Kovel Raion)". weather.in.ua. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
3. "About Us". Kolodiazhne Literature-Memorial Museum of Lesya Ukrainka (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 30 May 2014.