The Ukrainian, who learned Lithuanian and founded a business in Vilnius, does not forget home

“I live in Lithuania, I want to understand the people and the environment in which I live, I’ve learned a lot, but I’m not quite brave enough to speak yet,” – Ukrainian Kristina Bieliakova not only greets herself in Lithuanian, but can already converse. She is currently learning our language at A2 level.

When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the woman with her two children, mother and sister set out, as it seemed at the time, for a short time in Lithuania. The journey by car was long and tiring, and the only goal was to reach the country, to which my sister’s friend had invited me, who had arranged for housing in Vilnius.

“The most important thing is that my children and relatives are safe in Lithuania. My ten-year-old son and fourteen-year-old daughter attend school and learn Lithuanian, but I myself live between two countries, I often go to see my husband in Kyiv,” said the woman who obtained refugee status in Lithuania.

For seventeen years, Kristina and her husband in Ukraine nurtured their own business providing legal advice. Her husband is running the business during this difficult period. After arriving in Lithuania, she immediately registered with the Employment Service and wanted to get a job. However, at that time, the majority of low-skilled jobs were offered in hotels or catering establishments.

Kristina did not want to work as a cleaner, because she had a highly qualified job in her hometown, and her sister kept encouraging her to look for a better job position. A woman with a higher economic and legal education made up her mind. The idea of ​​creating your own business in Lithuania did not appear immediately.

“I was interested and searched for a long time, what is relevant for the Lithuanian market, I researched what is in demand, what might be missing or not filled. After that – how to do it, the legal requirements differ, other features. Therefore, it took almost a year to create a business plan. Last year, I was looking for premises for half a year,” said the Ukrainian woman, who finally reached her goal.

Last spring, Kristina founded UAB “LC VISIEMS”. The woman decided to take up the production and sale of frozen food. After analyzing the market, she believes that there is a lack of good quality frozen products in Lithuania. Then he bought a franchise from the worldwide popular Ukrainian chain Multi Cook, which produces handmade food products prepared on site – quick-frozen dumplings, pancakes, noodles, chebureks and other semi-finished products.

“In Ukraine, I myself liked to buy the products of this chain for my family, because there was no time to cook at home due to work. I think it is important to make the household easier for people who work a lot and don’t always have time. This is a high-quality product, so I wanted to try my hand at this in Lithuania. Maybe a little more expensive than in supermarkets, but we make everything from fresh, high-quality meat, by hand and most importantly – with love,” said the company’s director.

In January of this year, a shop-workshop was opened in Vilnius, T. Ševčenkos street 22. The aforementioned handmade semi-finished products are produced, frozen and sold in the shop behind a glass partition.

According to Kristina, the Employment Service helped her a lot, advising on business organization and personnel training issues: “They gave a lot of advice, organized employee selections, introduced them to the possibilities of receiving subsidies when hiring them.”

The director of the company is grateful to many specialists of the Vilnius customer service department for their support – besides, it would have been much more difficult to establish her own business: “I especially thank Jūrata Rybelienė, who spent a lot of time selecting employees, listened. I can contact you with questions at any time.”

Currently, K. Beliakova’s company “LC VISIEMS” employs three Lithuanians and eight Ukrainians who arrived after the start of the war. Buyers are slowly discovering this product. Many return and become regular visitors. Kristina’s plans include thoughts about further business development.

When asked about the future, the woman chooses her words more carefully, she said that she can’t really talk about it: “Yes, the children, mother are safe, but I don’t know what will happen later.” For Kristina, this is too difficult a topic, when family life is cut and divided into two parts – here, in Lithuania, and there, in her homeland, where she spent most of her life. Everyday life now – in the country where they live. The woman thanks the Lithuanians who received her family hospitably and who care about the fate of her countrymen.

There are currently more than 31.1 thousand people working in Lithuania. citizens of this country who have arrived in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. At most – 74 percent. work in medium-skilled jobs, highly qualified – 8.3 percent. and low – 17.7 percent. 2.9 thousand people are registered with the Employment Service. Ukrainians looking for work.