Initiatives to support Ukraine

I can provide accommodation for Ukrainian student

As the admissions to Vilnius University have began and the start of the academic year is approaching, Vilnius University Students' Representation (VU SR) invites the members of the VU community to help the Ukrainian students fleeing from the unprecedented war that violates all international rights and who are temporarily building heir future at Vilnius University by providing them with free accommodation - a free room, a part of the house, a free apartment, a place suitable for living in the garden or other premises.

The state and Vilnius University are doing their utmost to ensure that as many students fleeing the war in Ukraine as possible receive higher education, so we expect a much larger number of new arrivals in the coming semester.

As a large number of first-year students will be joining the Vilnius University community in September onwards, some of the enrolled Ukrainian students who are still in the process of completing their studies will face a shortage of accommodation.

We are therefore taking the initiative to appeal to our entire community to help by providing temporary accommodation for a Ukrainian student for one semester or at least for a month or two until a dormitory space becomes available.

If you have a spare room, a spare bed in your dormitory, you are going on an exchange for a semester, and your room/space remains empty, you have a part of a house, a spare flat, a habitable garden house or any other premises, you are living in your own/rented premises, and you have the approval of the owner of the property, and you are able to take in a Ukrainian student for one semester free of charge, please fill in the following registration form.

When registering, please indicate what accommodation you can provide and how many people you can host.

If you are leaving on a foreign exchange programme and leave your dormitory room empty, it is possible to give the room to a student from Ukraine for half a year without losing place of residence, you just have to notify the dormitory administration. The dormitory administration is ready to cooperate and supports the temporary transfer process.

If you have any questions, please contact .

This challenge is another way for our community to show that we can be united and help everyone together.

Volunteering

The Volunteer Center of Vilnius University invites community members to become volunteers. Assistance is currently needed in providing first psychological and first aid to Ukrainians, sorting, packing, distributing humanitarian packages, and registering people.

• Caritas Lithuania invites to provide voluntary assistance to the people of Ukraine in Lithuania. Registration form.
• Order of Malta Relief Organization invites to provide voluntary assistance to the people of Ukraine in Lithuania. Registration form.
• „Save the Children“ organization invites to provide voluntary assistance to Ukrainian children and pregnant women. Registration form.
• „Strong together“ civil initiatives invite to provide housing for the people of Ukraine. Registration form.

For more information, please contact by email at   or phone at +370 5 2193 295.

Reliable sources of information

Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science (VU TSPMI) recommends sources where you can find reliable information but emphasizes always remembering to check the sources critically. Link to the list.

Legal services

Vilnius University Law Clinic provides free primary legal aid to all Ukrainians living in Lithuania. Primary (first) legal aid is legal advice, preparation of letters to state or municipal institutions, assistance in filling in applications for secondary legal aid (state-guaranteed lawyer), and preparation of some simple court procedural documents. VU Law Clinic assists with family, inheritance, employment, contracts, real estate, and other issues.

Legal aid is provided by senior students of the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University, they are assisted, and professional lawyers ensure the quality of consultations. We offer consultations in Lithuanian, English, and Russian.

In response to the war in Ukraine and in order to help Ukrainians arriving in Lithuania, VU Law Clinic can also:

• To provide primary information about the conditions of stay in Lithuania;
• Assist in filling in the necessary documents submitted to the Migration Department, making copies of annexes;
• Provide contacts to other aid organizations and government agencies;
• To provide other primary legal aid within the limits of Lithuanian law.

Legal aid is provided by email: (please, add your question) or by phone at +370 623 26 041 (on working days from 10 a.m. to 6 o.m.). Also in the office at Vilniaus st. 25, Vilnius (by prior arrangement). Registration form here: https://teisesklinika.lt/registracija/.

The number of students providing counseling in Russian is limited, so if the question is urgent and there is no time for counseling in Russian in the near future, please ask questions in Russian by email: . Please note that if necessary, could be arranged urgent consultations, consultations at times not specified in the registration form, and other additional assistance - please inform by email, and consultants will contact you ().

Translation services

In response to the situation in Ukraine, Vilnius University Faculty of Philology staff and students who master Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian, and Polish want to voluntarily contribute to the dissemination of the necessary information in these languages at the university, so they are ready to translate various texts. For the required assistance, please get in touch with Anastasija Belovodskaja, Assoc. Prof. at the Institute for Languages and Cultures of the Baltic at the Faculty of Philology of VU, by email: . Furthermore, if you speak at least one of these languages and want to contribute to volunteering, your message is also welcome.

Concert services

Vilnius University Culture Center and art groups want to contribute to organizers of events supporting Ukraine and have prepared a list of pieces that could be performed in support campaigns for Ukraine. Therefore, those who wish to invite VU cultural representatives to contribute to their events can contact us by email: . 

Students mentoring program

Vilnius University Student Representation is expanding the mentoring program to integrate Ukrainian students into Vilnius University and our community. The role of the mentor will be more important not only in helping to integrate into studies but even more – in maintaining constant personal contact and integration into the University community and culture.

If you need a mentor, all you need is to contact Vilnius University about studies by email at . Then, you will automatically be assigned a mentor who will contact you shortly.

Library services

Vilnius University Library supports Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion and offers them an opportunity to use the Library services free of charge. They are welcome to:

• visit the Central Library (CL, Universiteto str. 3, Vilnius) and the Scholarly Communication and Information Centre (SCIC, Saulėtekio av. 5, Vilnius), the latter is open 24/7;
• use the Library computers, wireless internet, and special software;
• use printed and electronic resources of the Library;
• borrow fiction (the largest selection of such books is available at Czesław Miłosz and Leisure reading rooms);
• attend the Library events;
• use the Library spaces that are designated for various purposes.

The Library offers publications in various languages mostly (besides Lithuanian) English, German, French, Russian and Polish. Furthermore, there is a small collection of books in the Ukrainian language – these are around two and a half thousand books on book history, linguistics, law and other subjects. Those willing to get a VU Library card should approach the librarians working at the Information Desk of the Central Library (Universiteto str. 3, Vilnius) or the Scholarly Communication and Information Centre (Saulėtekio av. 5, Vilnius). A certificate of temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania will be necessary for the issuing of the Library card.

Contacts for inquiries:, phone 8 5 (219 50 51). More information in Ukrainian can be found here. 

Library website: https://biblioteka.vu.lt/en

Free dental treatment for children

4th and 5th-year dental students working at the Žalgiris Clinic of Vilnius University Hospital accept children for treatment. Services are provided in Lithuanian, English, German, Persian, Greek, and Russian. Children are treated weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00, 10:45, 1:00, and 3:20 p.m. Treatment is completely free for children. You can contact the team by phone at +370 (5) 2728243. More information in Ukrainian can be found here. 

Voluntary activities of VU employees

In response to the unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine by Russia and Belarus, Vilnius University has enabled University staff to contribute to helping the Ukrainian state and its citizens actively. Until 2022 June 30, each employee is given 10 percent weekly working time rates for voluntary activities in support of Ukraine. During volunteering activity, the employee would not be exempt from the wage. Volunteering should be coordinated by staff with a line manager.

Support for Ukrainian researchers

Vilnius University invites members of the community to join the world's scientists and support Ukraine. A list of the world's laboratories and scientists has been created, where anyone who can help Ukrainian scientists and students can register.

List: https://bit.ly/ua-table.
Registration: https://bit.ly/ua-form.

MJJ foundation establishes the funds to support the Ph.D. students, Postdoc researchers and scientists from Ukraine who are looking for safe relocation opportunities in Lithuania until it is safe to return and strengthen their country. Duration of the stay in the Lithuanian universities and research centers – up to 8 months with the possibility of extension, if necessary. Found out how to apply here. 

Vilnius University Faculty of Economics and Business Administration opens a special call for emergency assistance to Ukrainian researchers in danger. The initiative is aimed at Ukrainian scientists who have already fled to Lithuania after the Russian invasion of their country. It offers doctoral students, postdocs and established scientists working in the fields of Economics and Management the opportunity to continue their work in a research group at Vilnius University for 3-6 months. A simplified application form must be completed by a Ukrainian scholar, along with a curriculum vitae of the researcher.

The application platform is accessible here. More information can be found here. 

Drop-off donation point

A collection point for hygiene packages for Ukrainians in Lithuania is open at Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC) (Saulėtekio St. 7, Vilnius). Items will be accepted Mon–Fri from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Lithuanian Red Cross emphasized that only specifically listed hygiene products are collected.

The public is invited to contribute by donating:

• Shampoo for adults and children;

• Shower gel for adults and children;

• Toothpaste for adults and children;

• Toothbrushes for adults and children;

• Toilet paper;

• Women's packages;

• Shaving blades;

• Diapers for children (best sizes 3 and 4).

More information can be found here.

Basic Ukrainian phrases

Lithuanian citizens and organizations seek to help Ukrainians fleeing the war in a variety of ways. Nonetheless, Ukrainians also need emotional support. They may also need help in simple situations, such as finding the correct address in a new city. At the initiative of a Vilnius University student, a dictionary of the essential English-Ukrainian phrases is presented.

• Good morning / Доброго ранку! / Добрий ранок!
• Good afternoon / Доброго дня! / Добрий день!
• Good evening / Доброго вечора!/ Добрий вечір!
• Hello / Привіт!
• Nice to meet you / Приємно познайомитися!
• How is it going? / Як справи?
• I'm doing well, and you? / У мене все добре, як у вас/тебе справи?
• How are you? / Як ви/ти?
• What‘s your name? / Як Вас звати? Як тебе звати?
• My name is… / Мене звати....
• Thank you / Дякую
• Thank you very much / Дуже дякую
• Please / Будь ласка
• Sorry / Пробач/Пробачте
• Yes / Так
• No / Ні
• Do you speak English? / Ви говорите англійською? Ти говориш англійською?
• Do you have questions? / У тебе/вас є якісь запитання?
• Enjoy your meal! / смачного!
• Goodbye! / На все добре!
• See you soon! / До побачення! До зустрічі!