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oblast on its western border, many villages and towns in the north and east of Zhytomyr were made uninhabitable after the Chernobyl event. These places became part of the Chernobyl Zone, where crops still cannot be grown. Where agriculture is still possible in the oblast, a variety of crops are grown, including cereal grains, sugar beets, chicory, hops, and flax. Zhytomyr’s other main industries are manufacturing (producing goods like machinery, furniture, and medical supplies) and mining stone, such as quartz and granite, for construction purposes. Chernihiv The city of Chernihiv was established during the Kievan Rus period and was the second most important city behind Kyiv during that time.

SUPERNATURAL NATURE

Even though Ukraine is a modern country, its people are still open to the mystical. Located in Zhytomyr is the Kaminne Selo nature reserve, known for huge moss-covered boulders that are shaped like buildings. Locally, the reserve is called the Stone Village. Many Ukrainians believe that the boulders represent the battle between good and evil and claim that on some boulders you can see both God’s footprints and the devil’s claw marks. Scientists suggest another explanation: the boulders are remnants from ancient glaciers that moved through the area. There is also a local legend that an ancient oak tree near the village of Vyshpil can heal any disease.

Chapter 1: Northern Ukraine

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