Annu susrećemo u ugodnom kozmetičkom salonu by Millianna. Ovaj prostor u centru Varaždina Anna je otvorila prije pola godine, proširivši svoj studio nakon dvije godine rada. Ovdje rado dočekuje stare klijentice i nove posjetitelje: ljubitelje kvalitetne i dugotrajne manikure, složenih nail-dizajna te njege trepavica i obrva.

Anna Budylkina preselila se u Varaždin s početkom rata u Ukrajini. Ona sama taj potez naziva “bijegom za spas djece”. Naime, Annina je obitelj morala pobjeći iz Harkiva, grada koji je invazija zahvatila od prvih sati i kojeg nastavlja uništavati svakodnevno.

O evakuaciji u Hrvatsku

Anna: U prvim danima invazije cijela je moja obitelj planirala ostati u Ukrajini. Moj brat, otac, suprug, pa čak i majka, odmah su se pridružili redovima dragovoljačkih bataljuna i uključili se u obranu zemlje, a mi [Anna, njezina baka] brinule smo se o djeci. Na veliku žalost, u prvim tjednima invazije u ratu su poginuli moj otac i brat. Izgubili smo svu energiju i snagu naše obitelji, koju su naši muškarci nosili u sebi. Bilo je vrlo strašno za djecu. Nakon toga, obitelj više nije mogla ostati u Ukrajini. Prvo smo otišle mi, a kasnije i moj suprug [Annin suprug trenutno radi u Njemačkoj i prikuplja donacije za pomoć Ukrajini].

Annin otac, Serhij Kravčenko – ukrajinski znanstvenik, doktor arhitekture, glavni arhitekt grada Ljubotina i vojni veteran – tragično je preminuo u Harkivu tijekom napada osvajača.

Annin brat, Mykola Kravčenko – ideolog i jedan od osnivača pukovnije “Azov”, društveni i politički aktivist, veteran rusko-ukrajinskog rata. Bio je odani domoljub Ukrajine, znanstvenik, suosnivač veteranskog izdavačkog poduzeća “Orijentir”. Tijekom invazije, Mykola je radio na obrani Kijevske oblasti. Tamo je i poginuo, prateći strane novinare koji su dokumentirali rat. Iza njega su ostale supruga i dvije kćeri.

Anna: Dobri poznanici mog brata, domoljubi Hrvatske, pozvali su nas u Varaždin i puno nam pomogli da se smjestimo. Bili smo zapanjeni tako snažnom podrškom i do danas smo iskreno zahvalni. Svim ljudima, Kristovoj crkvi, gdje smo živjeli u početku, državnom programu podrške, bez kojeg bi bilo vrlo teško iznajmiti stan.

Nakon prvog šoka i razdoblja prilagodbe na novom mjestu, Anna, po obrazovanju ekonomist-financijer, morala se odlučiti za profesionalnu djelatnost. Njezino radno iskustvo u bankarskom i građevinskom sektoru u Ukrajini nije bilo relevantno za Hrvatsku bez poznavanja jezika. Tu su joj dobro došli stari hobiji i vještine. U Harkivu je Anna stvorila i razvijala vlastiti brend odjeće. Također je radila u nail industriji. Upravo u tom području Anna je odlučila razvijati se u novoj zemlji.

Anna: Zaposlila sam se u kozmetičkom salonu ovdje u Varaždinu, ali nisam prošla probni rok. I ne čudi: u to sam vrijeme bila uronjena u strašne vijesti od kuće. Ali zahvalna sam za to vrijeme, kada sam imala priliku osvježiti svoje vještine. I zahvaljujući tome, kasnije sam se vratila punom poslu.

O svom studiju i radu u Hrvatskoj

Anna se prema svom poslu ovdje u Hrvatskoj odnosi vrlo odgovorno i vodi se visokim standardima. Estetika, pouzdanost i sigurnost izuzetno su važni.

Anna: Koristim samo certificirane materijale, vrlo pažljivo pristupam dezinfekciji i sterilizaciji alata i pribora, čineći sve za sigurnost svojih klijenata. Zahvaljujući tome, ljudi se vraćaju, znajući da je ovdje pouzdano, sigurno, a rezultat mog rada traje do sljedećeg posjeta.

Osim toga, željela bih unijeti malo “ukrajinskog duha” u usluge ovdje: stalnu težnju za najboljim. Svakih šest mjeseci podižem svoju kvalifikaciju, usavršavam svoje tehnike i nudim nove usluge.

Cijeli proces osnivanja i otvaranja vlastitog posla u Hrvatskoj Anni su pomogli učinkovito prebroditi seminari i pomoć od strane udruge Svoja i Ukrajinaca koji su već radili u zemlji.

 

O Ukrajincima u inozemstvu

Anna: Uvijek kažem svom sinu [Anin sin pohađa treći razred osnovne škole, a kći živi i radi samostalno u Zagrebu] da mi ovdje svakodnevno predstavljamo Ukrajinu. I o nama ovisi kako će je stranci zamišljati. Stoga se u svakodnevnom životu i poslovanju trudim prenijeti: mi, Ukrajinci, smo radišni i snalažljivi, iskreni i svrhoviti, i imamo što podijeliti s ovim svijetom.

Redakcija portala Zmaj želi Anni i kozmetičkom salonu by Millianna prosperitet i vjerne klijente.

New Life After Loss

We meet Anna in the cozy nail salon by Millianna. Anna opened this space in the center of Varaždin six months ago, expanding her studio after two years in business. Here, she is happy to welcome long-time clients and new visitors: connoisseurs of high-quality and long-lasting manicures, complex nail designs, eyelash and eyebrow care.

Anna Budylkina moved to Varaždin at the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. She herself calls this move “an escape for the children’s lives.” The truth is, Anna’s family had to flee from Kharkiv, a city that the full-scale invasion affected from the first hours and continues to destroy daily.

About the Evacuation to Croatia

Anna: In the first days of the full-scale invasion, my whole family planned to stay in Ukraine. My brother, father, husband, and even mother immediately joined the ranks of volunteer battalions and were involved in the country’s defense, while we [Anna, her grandmother] took care of the children. Unfortunately, in the first weeks of the invasion, my father and brother were killed in the war. We lost all the energy and strength of our family that our men carried within them. We feared for our children’s lives. After this, the family could no longer stay in Ukraine. First, we left, and later my husband [Anna’s husband currently works in Germany and collects donations to help Ukraine].

Anna’s father, Serhii Kravchenko — a Ukrainian scientist, Doctor of Architecture, chief architect of the city of Liubotyn, and military veteran — tragically died in Kharkiv during an aggressor attack.

Anna’s brother, Mykola Kravchenko — an ideologue and one of the founders of the Azov Regiment, a public and political activist, and a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war. He was a devoted patriot of Ukraine, a scientist, and a co-founder of the veteran publishing house “Orientyr.” During the full-scale invasion, Mykola worked to defend the Kyiv region. He died there while escorting foreign journalists who were documenting the war. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Anna: Good acquaintances of my brother, Croatian patriots, invited us to Varaždin and helped us settle in. We were impressed by such strong support and are still sincerely grateful. To all the people, the Kristova crkva where we lived initially, and the state support program, without which it would have been very difficult to rent housing.

After the initial shock and a period of adaptation in the new place, Anna, an economist-financier by education, had to decide on a professional activity. Her work experience in the banking and construction sectors in Ukraine was not relevant to Croatia without knowledge of the language. This is where her old hobbies and skills came in handy. In Kharkiv, Anna had created and developed her own clothing brand. She also worked in the nail industry. It was in this field that Anna decided to develop in the new country.

Anna: I got a job at a nail salon here in Varaždin, but I didn’t pass the probationary period. Not surprisingly: at that time, I was immersed in terrible news from home. But I am grateful for that time, when I was able to refresh my skills. And thanks to that, I later returned to work fully.

About Her Studio and Work in Croatia

Anna takes a very responsible approach to her business here in Croatia and is guided by high standards. Aesthetics, reliability, and safety are extremely important.

Anna: I use only certified materials, I pay very close attention to the disinfection and sterilization of tools and equipment, doing everything for the safety of my clients. Thanks to this, people return, knowing that it is reliable and safe here, and the result of my work lasts until the next visit.

Moreover, I would like to bring a little bit of the “Ukrainian spirit” into the services here: a constant striving for the best. Every six months, I improve my qualifications, refine my techniques, and offer new services.

The entire process of creating and opening her own business in Croatia was effectively overcome by Anna thanks to seminars and assistance from the public organization Svoja and Ukrainians who were already working in the country.

About Ukrainians Abroad

Anna: I always tell my son [Anna’s son attends the third grade of primary school, and her daughter lives and works independently in Zagreb] that we represent Ukraine here every day. And how foreigners imagine it depends on us. So, in everyday life and business, I try to convey: we, Ukrainians, are hardworking and resourceful, sincere and purposeful, and we have something to share with this world.

The editorial team wishes Anna and the by Millianna nail salon prosperity and devoted clients.