The chapel dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ at the city cemetery in Zhukovka was built in 2004 with the blessing of Bishop Theophilact of Bryansk and Sevsk.

The history of Zhukovka began in 1867 with the construction of the Oryol-Vitebsk railway, organized by Pyotr Gubonin. To service the railway and supply steam locomotives with water and firewood, he settled several families here.

In 1871, Zhukovka became a station from a halt. In 1879 and 1880, a station building with a buffet was constructed. Nearby were the lands of landowner Zhukov, who was engaged in selling timber and building sawmills. The Velkovsky and Francis brothers' sawmills became the first industrial enterprises in Zhukovka.

In 1878 and 1881, the construction of the Zhukovka-Lyudinka (Kletnya) road began, which required rails and parts. For this purpose, a foundry was organized in Zhukovka. In 1894, the Oryol-Vitebsk railway became state-owned.

On October 1, 1896, a zemstvo primary school opened, as well as the Alexander Nevsky Church, where the Komsomol Square is now located. There is a version that Pyotr Gubonin is buried here.

In the early 20th century, a railway school was built in Zhukovka. In 1907 and 1910, a three-class school opened, and a post and telegraph office and a veterinary section appeared.

In 1914, an anti-tuberculosis sanatorium began operating, which functioned as a military hospital during World War I.

On October 1, 1929, Zhukovka became a district center.

In 1927 and 1928, a year before the formation of Zhukovsky district, more than a hundred small and artisanal enterprises were already operating in Zhukovka volost. The population was engaged in brick production, metal processing, blacksmithing, machine engineering, flour and cereal industries, as well as bread baking. According to the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, in 1930, Zhukovka had a population of 4,010.

On October 31, 1931, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee granted Zhukovka the status of a workers' settlement.