After taking over the building, the municipality would not have the right to allow Ukrainians to live for free, and it is not yet clear how long the State will cover their living expenses.
How did Ukrainians start living in holiday homes?
Buildings GD Kuverto st. 14 in Nida in 2023. were handed over to Tortos Bank from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania in February. At that time, according to the contract of use, people from Ukraine already lived in them – they were accommodated here by the Neringa municipality administration.
in 2024 In March, after the end of the usage contract, Turto bankas took over the management of the buildings and concluded new contracts with the residents regarding the free use of the premises.
As representatives of Turto banka informed the “What’s happening in Neringa” portal, they also ensure the maintenance of buildings – they cover the costs of communal services and maintenance. in 2025 these costs amounted to about 111 thousand. EUR without VAT. Neringa municipality has been considering taking over these buildings for some time. This is where the dilemma begins.
Litgrid’s precedent for support for Ukrainians
The discussion in Neringa is taking place at a time when shifts in the policy of support for Ukrainians are evident throughout Lithuania – and not only at the municipal level. At the end of April, LRT announced that the state-run electricity transmission company “Litgrid” decided not to pay rent for the housing of thirty Ukrainian families – even though four years ago it had promised to take care of them until the end of the war.
This family – relatives of Ukrenergo employees – came to Lithuania in 2022 at the invitation of the company. During the year, maintaining their housing cost Litgrid more than 200 thousand. euros. The changed manager of Litgrid explained the decision succinctly.
“Temporary has a beginning and an end. We are not committed to doing something until the end of our lives, because it is a support, a voluntary thing,” said Andrius Šemeškevičius, head of Litgrid.
The former head of Litgrid, Rokas Masiulis, disagreed with this – reminding that the Ukrainians not only received help, but also contributed themselves: they advised on how to protect the infrastructure, helped to deliver the equipment needed for synchronization.
“You drive the families of Ukrenergo employees to the street and ask if you can continue to advise us. I don’t know, I would say that this is a very human thing,” said R. Masiulis. The company gave the Ukrainians a three-month transitional period to find new housing.
Mayor: “The council must be well aware of the situation”
The situation in Neringa is similar – only here the decision has not been taken yet. In the discussion about the life of Ukrainians in Neringa, Mayor D. Jasaitis addressed the members of the committee: “The Council must be well aware that today we have won special rights for our Ukrainians – for them, the government pays for electricity in full, water and their entire life. And this is quite a lot of money,” said the mayor.
He explained why the calculation is difficult: there are no individual counters for each resident in that building. Some live in four, the other one – it is difficult to divide expenses according to square meters, because then one resident can say that he does not use certain services, but the bill is still paid in full.
“And would they stay if we took over and the council said: dear, you have lived here for many years, at least pay for water and electricity yourself, because you already have jobs, you have integrated into the community – this is a huge question,” said the mayor.
If the building becomes municipal, the conditions would change
According to the mayor, if the building became the property of the municipality, the situation would change dramatically – and not in favor of the residents. “No government resolution prevents us from giving them free premises when they become ours. We will also have to calculate the rent for living quarters for them, which according to our formula is huge. And then we will ask ourselves and them whether they will be left alone,” said Mayor D. Jasaitis. He did not rule out the possibility of creating special programs or requesting exemptions, but urged the council to consider the real consequences, both for the people and the city.
24 children – almost every seventh pupil
The committee was reminded of how much these families mean to the education system of Neringa: 16 Ukrainian children are currently studying at the gymnasium, together with kindergarteners, there are a total of 24 of them. This is almost every seventh student in Neringa. “16 students is really a lot.
And also the kindergartens that are coming – let’s imagine that,” said the mayor, when the committee members inquired about the exact number of Ukrainian children.
This is especially important in the context when the gymnasium is fighting for every student in order to maintain classes and not lose teachers.
