Kozova (Ukrainian: Козова; Polish: Kozowa; Russian: Козо́ва) is a small town in the Ternopil oblast of western Ukraine, in the area historically known as Galicia, 16 km east of Berezhany, some 30 km west of Ternopil and ca. 100 km southeast of Lviv. The town is situated beside a lake on the river Koropets (“little carp”). There is presumption that the name Kozova comes from the Ukrainian word “koza” (goat), though other possible sources exist.
Kozova was part of the USSR in the years 1939-1991, interrupted by the period of German occupation in 1941-1944. During 1350-1772 and again in 1919-1939 it was part of Poland and during 1772-1918 of Austria (Austro-Hungarian empire). The Polish name Kozowa was used when town was under Polish and Austrian dominion, up until 1939.
Kozova is the administrative center of the Kozivskyi Raion with about 5.000 inhabitants (in the town itself), mostly local Galician Ukrainians.
The population in 1939 was about 5,000, including many Poles and Jews. Upon the German occupation following Operation Barbarossa, the extermination of the town's Jewish population began. About 1.000 Jews were deported from Kozova to the Belzec death camp on September 21, 1942. In April 1943, another 1,000 Kozova Jews were shot by Germans, and in June 1943, 400 more Jews were executed by the Nazis. All are buried in mass grave in Kozova. After the war's end, the remaining population is exclusively Ukrainian, with only a few Poles, Jews and Russians.
Kozova Dairy is a major dairy enterprise, with a butter plant that processes 50 tons of milk daily. AGRO Ltd. from Lviv holds majority positions in Kozova Dairy.
The telephone code for Kozova and the Kozova district is +380 3547. Kozova telephone information service (called "Dovidkova" in Ukrainian): +380 3547 21222
- Belfry of Holy Spirit Church in village of Koniukhy, Kozova district.
- Holy Spirit Church in village of Koniukhy, Kozova district.
- Monument to Taras Shevchenko (classical Ukrainian writer and poet) in front of Kozova Children Arts School (Khudozhnya Shkola)
- Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
