Zarichchia. A Landscape-Gardening Park Monument and a Memorial to Partisan Glory

In the Nadvirna district, to the south-west of the village of Zarichchia, on the road to the village of Bili Oslavy, lies the national-significance landscape-gardening park monument «Park of Partisan Glory». This green landmark covers an area of 7 hectares at the foot of Mount Rakhovo (589 m above sea level). The emerald rectangle is located within the Delyatyn Forestry Enterprise’s Zarichchia forest district and has held protected status since 1983.

Nadvirna district. Memorial park of partisan glory

The conservation site stands like a green wall along the Delyatyn-Yabluniv highway.

The history of the park’s founding is recalled only by a plaque and memorial slabs bearing the inscriptions: «On 4 August 1943, the legendary partisan formation under the command of Hero of the Soviet Union S. A. Kovpak and Hero of the Soviet Union S. V. Rudnyev fought battles against the German-Fascist invaders. To the partisan soldiers, from the grateful people of the Subcarpathian region».

Memorial park. Commemorative markers in honour of Kovpak’s partisans

On the second stone pedestal are engraved verses by Platon Voronko: 

• From Oslavy to Polyanytsia
• By the spruces and mountain paths
• The gravestones
• Will point to the fearsome path,
• That the partisans cut
• Through the fiery cliffs.
• The peaceful, glorious generation
• Will not forget them!
• 
  

  

  Memorial park. Commemorative marker with verses by Platon Voronko

  
  

The partisans’ main aim was to hold back the enemy, to obstruct the mobilization of Ukrainian youth into the German army, and also to demonstrate their presence in the western Ukrainian region. Sydir Kovpak’s detachment was encircled among the mountains in a ring by punitive forces. Attempting to break through the enemy encirclement, the partisans dealt the enemy tangible blows near Yaremche and Delyatyn. The vanguard detachment under the command of commissar S. V. Rudnyev, having routed the guard of the German headquarters, knocked out two heavy tanks and destroyed the headquarters. Kovpak’s men put the railway station out of action and blew up a communications point, a radio station and the bridges that connected Delyatyn with Kolomyia, Nadvirna and Yaremche. The Red avengers suffered heavy losses; 73 partisans and commissar Semen Rudnyev were killed. The command decided to break off the battle in several groups and later left the Subcarpathian region. In the middle of the park stands a wooden chapel containing images of the Holy Mother of God with Jesus and of canonical saints.

Memorial park. Chapel

Behind the chapel stands a memorial stone at the spot where Semen Rudnyev was killed.

Memorial park. Commemorative marker at the spot where S. V. Rudnyev was killed

According to the official version, on 4 August 1943 the commissar fell a hero’s death in an unequal battle with the enemy for the village of Zarichchia. He is buried together with his son Radyk in a mass grave in the town of Yaremche.

Yaremche. Monument to Kovpak’s partisans and the grave of S. V. Rudnyev

Researchers of the Carpathian Raid by the partisan general Kovpak and his brigade lean toward the version of the deliberate murder of Semen Vasylovych Rudnyev by the radio operator Hanna Turkina on the orders of the NKVD. A conflict smouldered between Kovpak and Rudnyev, linked to Semen Vasylovych’s disagreement with the Centre’s policy toward Ukrainian nationalists. The western Ukrainian lands were engulfed by an insurgent movement, and Rudnyev understood that without the people’s support and an understanding with the UPA the partisan force would not be able to drive out the Hitlerites. There was a tense situation in Kovpak’s formation connected with Rudnyev’s name. Sydir Kovpak reported Rudnyev’s contacts and meetings with UPA leaders to the Moscow leadership. The debates continue, and the circumstances of Rudnyev’s death remain unclear.

Park avenues and the green collection

The park was laid out in honour of the partisans in September 1966.

Memorial park. Central square

At present the landmark is not carefully tended; the paths are overgrown with wild young growth, yet photographs of wedding ceremonies on the avenues of this green oasis can be found online. The green collection, now about 60 years old, is worth examining. The Carpathian cedar was once widespread across the mountain expanses, but unauthorized felling for timber contributed to the disappearance of valuable species of the forest stock. Relict specimens of the Carpathian cedar are included in the register of nature reserve fund sites.

The green stock of the memorial park

Since 2023 the black walnut and the red oak have been included in the list of alien tree species and banned for the creation and restoration of forests and shelterbelts. The eastern arborvitae and the savin juniper are cultivated in parks and on homesteads, and the lush crowns of these ornamental plants give topiary masters no peace. The small-leaved linden – a medicinal and honey-bearing tree – is known in every region of Ukraine. The silver spruce is invariably a coniferous adornment of urban green oases and is used as a New Year tree during the holidays. The main tasks of the park monument are to create conditions for the preservation and rational use of natural resources for aesthetic, educational, conservation and health purposes. Visitors should try not to harm the compositions of trees, shrubs and flowers, and not to trample the grass lawns. 

Landscape-gardening park monument

With the park’s decline, the bus stop, which is turning into a ruin by the road, became unnecessary. The approach to the stop is dug up by a trench, transport does not stop here, yet the pavilion deserves attention. The structure is decorated with mosaic panels depicting the flora and fauna of the Carpathian region, but the smalt pieces are crumbling away and the whole picture is being lost. The work of the monumental artists can still be revived and the roadside landmark preserved. 

Bus stop with mosaic pictures near the memorial park