When Daria Friahina first arrived in Kaunas, the city seemed almost too quiet. It was March, the days were grey, and there were few people on the streets. Compared with Kharkiv – a large and vibrant Ukrainian city – Kaunas felt small.
Four years later, Daria sees those same streets, parks and the rhythm of the city differently. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Lithuania, taking part in exchange programmes and gaining professional experience in Dubai and Barcelona, she had options about where to go next. She chose Kaunas.
This autumn, she will begin her master’s studies here.
“I am from Ukraine – a country whose brave and resilient people are fighting for freedom,” says Daria Friahina. Born in Mariupol and later moving to Kharkiv, she is now building her life in Kaunas. Daria came to Lithuania after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, looking for a safe place where she could continue her studies.
When she speaks about Ukraine, Daria mentions the strength of its people, its rich history, traditions and landscapes. But Kharkiv holds a particularly special place in her memories.
“Every person from Kharkiv will tell you that it is simply the best city in the world. It has lots of parks, it is very clean, full of young people and great places to spend time,” Daria says with a smile.
When war changed her plans
Russia’s full-scale invasion changed Daria’s plans for her education. She had already started studying marketing in Ukraine, but when the war began, she needed to find a safe place where she could continue her studies.
Lithuanian universities opened study opportunities for Ukrainians, and a personal recommendation helped Daria decide where to go.
“My friend’s father had previously worked as a professor at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and spoke very highly of it, so KTU became my first choice,” the graduate recalls.
Daria had already been interested in marketing and business while living in Ukraine, attracted by how broadly these skills can be applied across different sectors. In Lithuania, she chose KTU’s Digital Business Management programme, combining business knowledge with technological skills.
“Here, business subjects are combined with practical skills, such as learning to use modern business automation software. That is especially valuable to me,” says Daria.
As artificial intelligence develops rapidly and reshapes the world of work, she believes her chosen field has become even more relevant.
Yet her first months in Lithuania were not only about studies. She also had to build a new everyday life in a country she barely knew.
A city that initially seemed too small
Daria arrived in Lithuania in March. The weather was gloomy, the streets were almost empty, and Kaunas, compared with lively Kharkiv, seemed unusually small and quiet.
It was not love at first sight.
But cities, like people, sometimes reveal themselves gradually.
“Over time, I started liking Kaunas more and more,” she admits.
During four years in Lithuania, Daria discovered what she had not noticed during those first days – the city’s cosy streets, greenery, parks and a calmer pace of life. Its compact size, which initially surprised her, gradually became part of what made living there comfortable.
Kaunas did not replace Kharkiv. But it became a place where she could build a new chapter of her life.
A community that helped her settle in
People were an important part of that chapter.
“KTU helped me adapt during one of the most difficult and stressful periods of my life,” Daria says.
At the university, she made friends, received psychological support and, through the Erasmus+ programme, had the opportunity to travel around Europe and discover other countries.
Looking back at her four undergraduate years, Daria highlights three things that stand out most – her lecturers, the climbing gym and the opportunities for international exchange.
“The lecturers were undoubtedly the best part of my studies. They genuinely cared about the students and were easy to approach. They were supportive and always willing to share advice and information about different opportunities,” says the KTU graduate.
Daria was also recognised several times for her academic achievements, receiving a talent scholarship on multiple occasions, taking part in exchange programmes and participating in an international academic conference.
Her university years, however, became much more than lectures and exams. They gave her opportunities to test herself in different countries and professional environments.
From Dubai and Barcelona back to Kaunas
In Dubai, Daria organised an international sustainability and finance event. She completed her mandatory internship at a company in Barcelona and was offered a job afterwards.
These experiences strengthened her confidence and helped her better understand what kind of future she wanted to build.
And yet, the next stage of that future will begin in Lithuania.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Daria is not saying goodbye to KTU. This autumn, she will begin a master’s degree in Social Innovation and Research.
“I decided that it would make sense to combine the knowledge I gained during my bachelor’s studies in business with master’s studies in sociology, because in the future I want my professional work to contribute to positive changes in society,” Daria explains.
Four years ago, Lithuania was a place Daria came to because war had changed the course of her life. Today, after studying, travelling and gaining professional experience abroad, staying is a choice she is making for herself.
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