The village of Chornorudka is part of the Vchoraishenske rural hromada of Berdychiv Raion in Zhytomyr Oblast (until 2020, it was part of Ruzhyn Raion). According to the 2001 census, it had a population of 1,005. The founding of the village dates back to 1620. The remains of a Chernyakhiv culture settlement have been discovered in the surrounding area, and throughout the centuries, Chornorudka developed as an agricultural village.
In the second half of the 19th century, an estate of the Tereshchenko family—well-known sugar barons—existed here. According to local legend, after the tragic death of the owner's daughter in the lake, the Tereshchenkos abandoned the estate, the buildings fell into disrepair, and the park turned into a forest. Not a single structure from the estate has survived to the present day.
The Koziatyn–Fastiv railway runs through the village, built as a branch of the South-Western Railway; traffic here was opened in 1870. Presumably, the station building was also erected at that time, surviving to this day as an example of 19th-century railway architecture. Today, commuter electric trains in the direction of Koziatyn, Fastiv, and Kyiv run through the station.
Water Tower
The main landmark of Chornorudka is the water tower near the station, made of granite in the likeness of a defensive castle tower. It supplied water to steam locomotives and later became a symbol of the village.
Water tower and stop.
Railway station (1870).
What to see
- Water tower — a technical landmark in the form of a defensive tower and the architectural symbol of the village.
- 19th-century railway station — an example of historical railway infrastructure preserved to this day.
- Outskirts of the village — peaceful rural landscapes that complement the historical atmosphere.
Chornorudka is the birthplace of the Hordiichuk brothers: Petro Maksymovych (1912–1991), a theater artist, director, and painter, and Mykola Maksymovych, a Doctor of Art History. Next to the station lies the neighboring village of Nova Chornorudka.
Chornorudka is of interest to those fascinated by railway history, the Tereshchenko heritage, and little-known architectural landmarks of Ukraine. The water tower and historical station buildings make it a worthwhile stop for tourists and researchers.
How to get there
The most convenient way is by a commuter electric train on the Koziatyn–Fastiv line: the Chornorudka stop is located right next to the water tower.
Photos by Roman Malenkov.
