The first Ukrainian center in the European Union for citizens who were forced to leave Ukraine was opened in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. The Republic of Lithuania has accepted more than 50,000 Ukrainian internally displaced persons since the beginning of the Russian aggression.
Source: The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska
The cultural center was created on the initiative of the first ladies of the two countries – Olena Zelenska and Diana Nausėdienė. Vytautas Magnus University provided the premises for it.
The symbolic ribbon was cut at the ceremony by the First Lady of Lithuania, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Petro Beshta, and Rector of the University Juozas Augutis.
Olena Zelenska joined the event via a video link from Kyiv.
The Ukrainian center will be a place of education, career guidance, psychological assistance, and recreation for children, youth and adults. Here parents can leave their child for extracurricular activities, lectures, educational courses or spend time on hobbies.
The center will also be a platform for cultural diplomacy between countries, will present Ukraine, its culture and identity in Lithuania, participate in academic activities, and hold creative meetings, concerts and other events.
“When we conceived this center with a colleague, let me say, with my friend and great friend of Ukraine Diana Nausėdienė, we wanted Ukrainians who were forced to come to Lithuania because of the war to have a truly native place. That the center was the place where it is possible to address any question – for the help or communication. To be able to study here, to spend leisure time, join a cultural event or educational course.”
See also: More than 3.2 million Ukrainians have received temporary protection status in Europe – UN
