Ukrainian Family Builds New Life in Montenegro: A Story of Resilience and Hope

Written by: Teodora Ladjic / Edited by: Mensur Bajramspahic / May 2024

The war in Ukraine has caused disastrous repercussions not only within the country but also worldwide, from disrupting global supply chains to driving up the prices of food, fuel and other commodities. However, the most devastating impact has been on the people of Ukraine, forcibly displacing one third of Ukraine’s total population both within Ukraine or across borders. In 2024, approximately 14.6 million Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2024.[1]Many have sought refuge in neighbouring countries like Poland, while others have journeyed further away to the so-called second line countries, primarily throughout Europe. One such country is Montenegro, a small nation with a population of around 620,000, which has generously opened its borders to more than 200,000 Ukrainians who arrived since the onset of the war. On 11 March 2022, Montenegro activated a Temporary Protection (TP) regime for refugees from Ukraine for up to one year and since then has been extending it annually, most recently until March 2025. Since the activation of the TP regime, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has granted temporary protection to more than 10,000 Ukrainian refugees, making Montenegro the country with the highest per capita Ukrainian refugee population in the world. [2]

Among the refugees who found safety in Montenegro is Anna Zaharlova (41), her husband Kazimierz Osinjski (59) and their family who have been building a new life in the small town of Danilovgrad. Upon their arrival in the country, the family recalls having a strong sense of familiarity with Montenegrin culture and a feeling that Montenegrins could be their compatriots. Very soon they were certain they can build a stable life in the country and call Montenegro their new home. Anna and her husband decided to buy a small piece of land in the countryside, with plans to construct a house and create a new beginning for them and three children. 

At the beginning, it was hard due to language barrier, Anna came alone with children, but generosity has been already felt in first weeks of their arrival in the state provided accommodation in Bozaj and then later in the Asylum Centre in Spuz, where Anna and her children stayed for several weeks, until they received temporary protection. Soon, her Polish husband arrived, regulated his status as a foreigner and supported them further to settle in Montenegro.

Their journey to safety was an arduous one; at the onset of the war Anna’s family fled to Poland, seeking refuge with her husband’s relatives. Struggling to find words to convey the anguish of leaving everything familiar behind in Ukraine and the overwhelming fear for her family’s safety, Anna explains that the family was unable to rebuild their lives in Poland and opted to move to Montenegro. The family stayed at the state-provided accommodation until they received temporary protection, when they moved to a private apartment. Initially, Anna and her children faced language barrier, together with the challenges of starting over in yet another new country. However, despite the hardships, the family found solace in the warm welcome from Montenegrins and support from UNHCR, which was critical until the arrival of Anna’s husband, when the family really began to settle in Montenegro. 

Anna and Kazimierz have embraced their new life in Montenegro with determination having purchased land in Danilovgrad and started a self-sustaining agricultural business, with plans to build a solid house there. While forced displacement impacts everyone forced to flee, displaced women face unique challenges such as increased risk of gender-based violence, but also bear the brunt of greater responsibilities in caring for their families under precarious conditions. But far from being helpless victims, women are resourceful, resilient and courageous in the face of hardships. Anna speaks about remaining strong in order to build a safe environment for her children.

“Faced with hard reality, but with an urge to fight for survival, especially for children, made me resilient and adaptive to any situation. We must help ourselves in order others to support us and lift us like UNHCR and its partners did in the beginning in Montenegro. My family and me found our life here, in Danilovgrad, determined to make our small agricultural land productive to secure a new home and meaningful life for my children,” said Anna. 

Since July 2022, Ana and Kazimierz have been working tirelessly to develop their business and farm the land they now own.  Passionate about agriculture, they grow a variety of vegetables and fruits that they sell in the farmer’s market. They also maintain around 25 beehives and hundreds of small fish, all contributing to a developing and self-sustainable business that support their family. Though their current home on the land is still modest, they are determined to construct a solid house, supported by the small, yet stable income from their agricultural endeavors and their relentless hard work in the field.

Anna’s twins, Leonid and Kateryna (12) have adapted well to their new environment, enjoying their new home and land in Danilovgrad. Anna explains the amazing and therapeutic effect of their land on kids, who found solace in the nature and animals. Both kids attend the small primary school “Milosav Koljensic” in a neighboring village , where they were warmly welcomed by their peers and school staff, without prejudice. Their peers, in particular, helped them adjust to the new surroundings and curriculum.

“We love being here; we have easily learned Montenegrin, we feel like we belong here, and our Montenegrin friends accept us as their own compatriots,” the twins shared joyfully. Kateryna excels in school, particularly in arts and singing, while Leonid enjoys mathematics and sports. Anna’s oldest son, Volodymir (17), studies at a secondary school in the coastal city of Bar. He has found a side job as sous chef at a popular local restaurant, where he enjoys working and visits his family on weekends.

The Ukrainian family dreams of establishing their own ethno village to host other good people and share with them Montenegro’s natural beauty. Their commitment to fully integrate is evident in their daily lives: they learn at least 50 new Montenegrin words each day, determined to speak the language fluently. The neighbors visit them often to share local knowledge and customs, helping them connect more deeply with the spirit, history and culture of Montenegro. Anna and her family are truly a shining example of how refugees, given the opportunity, can integrate and positively contribute to their host country.

UNHCR welcomes Montenegro’s ongoing generosity in responding to the needs of Ukrainian refugees. In order to support the Government of Montenegro, UNHCR and its implementing partners, the Civic Alliance and the Red Cross of Montenegro, provide various legal and psychosocial services to Ukrainian refugees through the field offices on the coast and in the capital city Podgorica, where the majority of Ukrainian refugees reside.  UNHCR will continue to be a reliable partner to the Government of Montenegro, ensuring the timely and adequate implementation of international refugee standards.

• Find out more Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation (unhcr.org)
• If you are a person from Ukraine and need support or information, please check  UNHCR Montenegro - Help for refugees and asylum-seekers

[1] https://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/ukraine/ 

[2]Statistical data as provided by the Ministry of Interior and the Border Police of Montenegro