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Russian singer Monetochka says she moved to Vilnius at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine expecting it to be temporary, but has grown attached to the city and may remain there indefinitely. In a questionnaire published by Meduza, she describes daily life, family routines and the difficulty of feeling that she belongs anywhere.
Russian singer Monetochka says she may stay in Vilnius indefinitely, four years after moving to the Lithuanian capital at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In a questionnaire published October 1 by Meduza, she said she had expected the city to be a temporary stop but came to love it, while still feeling unsure that she belongs anywhere.
Monetochka, whose first name is Liza, told Meduza that she has become comfortable in Vilnius and may feel more at ease there than she did in Moscow, where she lived for a shorter time. She said she knows the city’s restaurants, cafés, markets, children’s activities and concert venues, and often cycles around with her children in a trailer. She described Vilnius as green and bike-friendly, with new places to discover despite its small size.
Her account also describes the practical and social adjustments of settling in a new country. She said learning the language and making friends were difficult at first, and that life in Lithuania moves more slowly than in Moscow. She added that she adapted to the pace, made close friends and found that the calmer setting helps her balance creative work and family life, particularly after touring.
Among the details she shared are her annual visits to Vilnius’s Kaziukas fair, where she buys crafts and food, and regular trips to Kalvarijos Market with friends. She said she likes being recognized there as a customer rather than for her music. Monetochka also named šaltibarščiai, Lithuania’s cold beet soup, as a favorite local food. These personal details are part of Meduza’s new questionnaire series about how people who left Russia are settling into their new homes.
Building a Home Beyond Russia
Monetochka’s account offers a personal view of long-term life in exile: not only the reasons for leaving, but the routines and relationships that can form after relocation. Her comments describe a shift from treating Vilnius as a temporary refuge to imagining that she could stay for good, while also making clear that feeling settled does not necessarily mean feeling a sense of belonging.
The story also adds an individual perspective to Meduza’s series on emigrants from Russia. Monetochka is a public figure, but her account centers on ordinary parts of resettlement—language, friendships, children’s activities and local markets. It does not establish how other Russian emigrants experience Lithuania, but it illustrates how a new home can become familiar without replacing ties to friends, family and listeners.
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From Stopover to Daily Life
Meduza introduced the questionnaire series as a way to hear from people of interest to its readers about their lives after leaving Russia. The outlet said Monetochka would be the first participant and described her as having written an anthem for the current wave of emigration. The article presents her responses as a personal account rather than a broader survey of Russian emigrants.
Monetochka said she moved to Vilnius at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. The source does not provide a more specific moving date, details about her legal or employment status, or a separate account of the circumstances of her departure. Her description focuses on the years since, including her family’s routines and the ways she has come to know the city.
“I thought Vilnius would be a stopover, but I ended up loving the city so much that I decided to stay — maybe forever.”
— Monetochka, speaking to Meduza
Belonging Remains Unresolved
Monetochka’s comments do not specify whether she has made a firm decision to remain in Lithuania permanently. Her wording—“maybe forever”—is tentative, and the source gives no plans for a possible move or a timeline for deciding. She also said she does not feel that she belongs in Vilnius, despite being comfortable there and having built friendships and routines.
The questionnaire does not give details about her family’s residency arrangements, her work plans or how often she returns to Russia, if at all. It also does not assess the experiences of other emigrants or present independent reporting on their circumstances. The points about her life in Vilnius are her own account as published by Meduza.
Meduza’s Series Continues
Meduza presented Monetochka’s questionnaire as the first installment in a series about people who left Russia and their lives in new homes. The outlet did not specify when another installment would appear or name the next participant. For now, the next development identified in the source is continuation of that series; Monetochka’s own long-term plans remain open.
Key Questions
How long has Monetochka lived in Vilnius?
She told Meduza that she has lived there since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and described herself as four years into life in the city. The article does not give a specific moving date.
Is Monetochka definitely staying in Lithuania?
No firm decision is reported. She said she had decided to stay and “maybe forever,” indicating that she may remain but has not described it as a settled permanent plan.
What has she found difficult about moving?
She said learning a new language and making friends were difficult at first. She also noticed that life in Vilnius moves at a slower pace than in Moscow, though she said she adjusted to it.
What does Monetochka say she likes about life in Vilnius?
She praised the city’s greenery, bike-friendly streets and smaller scale, and described enjoying its markets, cafés and annual Kaziukas fair. She also said the calm pace helps her balance creative work and family life.
What is the Meduza questionnaire series about?
Meduza said the series will feature people who left Russia discussing their lives in new homes. Monetochka’s questionnaire is the first installment described in the source.
Source: rss
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