Velykyi Kuialnyk (Ukrainian: Вели́кий Куя́льник, pronounced [weˈlɪkɪj kuˈjɑlʲnɪk]; Russian: Большой Куяльник, Bolshoy Kuyalnik) is a village (selo) in Berezivka Raion, Odesa Oblast, southern Ukraine. It belongs to Znamianka rural hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. The village is situated on the banks of the Velykyi Kuialnyk River, which flows into the Kuyalnik Estuary (liman).
Etymology The name "Velykyi Kuialnyk" translates from Ukrainian as "Great Kuyalnik." This name likely refers to its location along the Velykyi Kuialnyk River, the larger of two rivers (the other being the Malyi Kuialnyk, or "Small Kuyalnik") that feed into the Kuyalnik Estuary. The term "Kuyalnik" itself is of Turkic origin, potentially meaning "dry" or "salty" land, referring to the characteristics of the estuary.
Geography Velykyi Kuialnyk is located in the northern part of Odesa Oblast, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of the city of Odesa. It is situated in the steppe zone, characterized by flat to gently rolling terrain. The village is directly on the Velykyi Kuialnyk River, which is the primary freshwater source for the highly saline Kuyalnik Estuary, a significant natural landmark known for its therapeutic mud and salt.
History The area around Velykyi Kuialnyk has been inhabited for centuries, with evidence of ancient settlements. The modern village likely developed as part of the agricultural expansion in New Russia (Novorossiya) during the Russian Empire, following its annexation of the region from the Ottoman Empire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Like many rural settlements in Ukraine, it experienced significant historical events including the Russian Civil War, Holodomor (the man-made famine of the 1930s), World War II, and Soviet collectivization. Until the 2020 administrative reform, the village was part of the Ivanivka Raion.
Demographics According to the 2001 Ukrainian Census, Velykyi Kuialnyk had a population of 850 inhabitants. The population is predominantly Ukrainian, with smaller percentages of other ethnic groups typical for the region. The village's economy is primarily agricultural.