Feedback

We express our great respect and gratitude to Natalia and the entire Pristanište team for the opportunity to recharge. Thanks to Ksenia for the tour in Kotor and to Olga for letting us taste the mountains.

We would like to say that if it weren’t for this truly magical place “Pristanište,” we would hardly have been able to adapt quickly, or even get here…

This is our first time in Europe — few people from Khabarovsk travel further than Moscow. But it so happened (we suspected it would!) that we began to be persecuted for our views and political stance. Here in the cozy “Pristanište,” we were able to breathe freely!

Thank you to the foundation and volunteers for meeting us, transporting us, helping with our luggage, providing a place to stay, making our bed, and providing delicious food and personal hygiene products. This is a tremendous help and support! Once again, thank you sincerely!

We very much hope that we will settle well. In some European country, we will receive a stable salary and be able to allocate a percentage to help the foundation!

We know that all this horror will end someday, but still, there will be many more waves of immigration and refugee crises ahead, and many people will need our help and the help of the Pristanište foundation!

Glory to Ukraine!
Russia will be free!
We won’t give up, we just can’t!

We are immensely grateful for the help provided by the Pristanište foundation during such a challenging and difficult time. You have given the children the chance to immerse themselves in the beauty and tranquility of incredible Montenegro, to restore their emotional balance and trust in a world that should be free of war.

Natalia’s care warmed us all throughout our stay at the foundation’s house. We also met amazing people and attended masterclasses organized by Pristanište. The children are all thrilled!!! We are overflowing with emotions.

We will definitely invite you to visit our peaceful Ukraine after the victory.

Thank you for an amazing 7 days! More engagement opportunities with children, such as music lessons, would improve everyone’s experience, as well as more clubs and other themed events and gatherings. Thank you, Elliot Yaroslavsky, 13/04/2024

I’m very thankful for the great stay here at Pristaniste! I appreciate the welcoming staff and the great amenities. However, the best part were the people. Extremely friendly and always positive. I appreciate all the things you do for this wonderful space. With regards, Denis Batalov, 13/04/2024

We feel that no one word or phrase can fully encapsulate the kindness, warmth and depth of the impact you have the community in Budva. Thank you [from the bottoms of our hearts] for this opportunity, for continued care and support of those in need, and for taking us in with such open and ready arms.
We wish you [the best of luck] with the future, and hope to see you again in the near future.
Warmest wishes, A. Shpazov 13/04/2024 (sleep needs are fully kicked in, sorry for errors)

I am infinitely grateful to the Pristaniste Foundation for their shelter. I am incredibly happy for all the help and support. Here you feel at home, safe, like with relatives. Volunteers with big hearts. Here you understand that we all actually want only peace. Friendship is possible, and borders are only in our heads (no) - only on the map. All the best to you!

We are very grateful to the foundation for allowing us to take a breath and to look around in a new country, for the incredibly cozy and hospitable conditions in which we found ourselves! Prištanište gave us the understanding that not everything is so scary, and that there are always people nearby who will support. Let there be peace in the world, and Good shall prevail.

Many thanks to Prištanište for responding at a moment hard for me and also for people who discovered themselves in escape and grief, because of the aggressive, bloody regime terrorizing the Ukrainians and Russians through war and repressions. It's heartening that in such a situation you understand that strength is in unity through response and kindness! We will win this war because we are together! Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus! Death to the Kremlin!

We are incredibly grateful to Prištanište! The foundation helped us and provided us shelter in a very difficult period. Despite the fact that we had already lived for some time in Montenegro, we were in Podgorica and could not find work there for several months. Prištanište not only gave us accommodation for 2 weeks, they also helped us to find a job.
In addition, while we lived in Prištanište, the BBC was filming a report here. It was a very interesting experience! Despite our interview was almost entirely cut, we met with journalists and talked with a musical group from Kyiv. It was very tough but important conversation. Thank you, Prištanište, for helping and providing a platform for conversation. No to war!

Many thanks to the organizers and staff of the wonderful “Prištanište” in Budva for the shelter, kindness and attention I received during my 2-weeks stay in February, 2024!
Traveler, artist and just a man of the world

Prištanište is the island of my dreams. According to the notes in this incredibly emotional and sincere Feedback book, many people come here after severe life "wracks," in various states, sometimes with lost balance and without any hope... And this amazing island warms up, gives confidence and opportunity to believe that human brotherhood exists. I am very grateful to Prištanište, Sveta Shmeleva, Natasha, Alena, Gennady, Vasily - all the “islanders” for the opportunity not to get lost after moving, for shared thoughts, for warmth and care, for unity and empathy.

I’ve spent happily three wonderful days at Prištanište! I am grateful to the foundation for this opportunity, for the warmth in the house, for everyday amenities, for comfort and care. During those three nights, I managed to get enough sleep, and not think about worries, and I was able to distract myself, relax, and get my head in order! Thanks to the wonderful people who are doing such an important thing for those traumatized by war. I wish everyone happiness, peace, joy, and health!

I write this feedback with immense gratitude. Our family received not only shelter but also great support. "Prištanište" is doing a titanic job! Owing to Elena, Natalia and Evgenia our family received a chance for a new life. We will always remember with warmth and great gratitude the help of "Prištanište"

"Thank you to the Pristanište Foundation and all the staff, as well as the owner of the house, for the warm home and good atmosphere. Thank you for the time we spent with you. Thanks to you, we were able to bring the play and film to Budva. Thank you for your care and attention."
Lena Golosiy


"Thank you for the opportunity to meet different people and feel my importance to others. Thank you and see you soon."
Natalia Datsenko

In a world engulfed in chaos, Pristaniste emerged as a refuge. In a challenging moment, it was as if providence pointed the way here. Kindness and humanity, all-encompassing support.

A huge thank you to all of you! For shelter, food, and psychological assistance. Thanks to you, I escaped the feelings of loneliness and insignificance.

I hope that all of us will build a good life, and someday we will meet not burdened by shared sorrow but to share our experiences and happiness.

May God grant you all health and strength to go on with your sacred mission!

See you in beautiful Montenegro!

There are not enough words in the world to express our gratitude to everyone who gave us such a wonderful opportunity to relax, escape from worries and fear, and feel completely safe.
Dear Sava, Natalia, Alyonka, Anechka, Lyudochka, Uma, and everyone who was around these days, thank you very much.
You gave us not just a vacation, we and the children took away with us memories of you as kind, peaceful, wonderful, generous, caring people with a big heart.
You gave us a very important feeling in life - security. We have found peace here.
Dear, dear friends, we wish you well-being, health, success and happiness.
We will miss you. See you soon. Thank you!

What is a home for a person? - It is a place where you feel calm, protected, all worries go away and you can finally relax.
For us the home became Pristanishte. For a long time for the first time I felt that feeling" "Everything, we have come home!". Calmness, absence of fear, support of people you have never seen before, but who seem to be closer to your neighbors, next to whom you have lived for 12 years.
All the team of Pristanishte and Natalia thank you very much for adaptation, support, cozy house, cookies, food, opportunity to work and smiles of kind people, which we have already had time to get rid of

We are grateful to Pristanishte for helping us move from Russia to Montenegro. For housing, for food, for psychological support. During this time I found a job, found inexpensive housing, arranged for my children to go to school not far from home.
Special thanks to Natalia, who helped us a lot, both with finding an apartment and with... a lot of things. We thank Ark very much. Thank you so much for your help!!!

There is such a job Motherland to protect. But what about those who need to be protected from the Motherland...? As it turns out, for this there are you! I really do not know your motives, but what you do - worthy of respect and admiration! Thank you for your shelter and hearth! And God bless you.
Dmitry Knobloch, a writer and a grateful person to you

Thank you for the opportunity to stay with you. Thank you for your help and support, for the warm welcome and delicious food. During this time we found a place to live and moved to another city. We wish you all the best, good luck. It's good that there are such kind people on earth

Pristanište is a place you can touch. A space that proves that when the world is on fire - an open heart and warm hugs can make a miracle.
Thank you for the opportunity to feel the atmosphere. Thank you to Sveta for her kindness. Thanks to Inna for her hospitality

A big thank you to Pristanište for the opportunity to relax and enjoy the landscapes of Montenegro!!! Wishing everyone involved good health and inspiration, continued success for the project in the future!!! A heartfelt thank you and respect to the administration!!!

My son and I sincerely thank the Pristanište Foundation for supporting Ukrainians! Thank you for providing shelter, offering moral support, and more. It was very pleasant to receive treats and a cozy room for a few nights. We are delighted to have met you. We will cherish the fondest memories of you!

From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to the Pristanište Foundation for assistance and a warm welcome! Thanks to everyone who helped: Alena, Inna, Savva, and other pleasant people. You cannot even imagine the opportunity you gave us — the chance to breathe a sigh of peaceful, clean air, not to hear air raid sirens, to 'exhale' a bit, and partially rehabilitate. Thank you for this opportunity, thank you for understanding, for support, thank you for giving people hope for life! We appreciate the warmth and kindness! May God bless you with peace, goodness, strength, health, happiness, and love!

Having come from a war-torn area where there are shootings and bombings, where there is no drinking water in the tap, and the electric power is periodically cut off, miraculously finding ourselves in the territory of Pristanište, in the kind and gentle hands of volunteers, we rested our soul and body. We stopped flinching at unexpected loud sounds, during a storm, listening carefully, thinking, 'maybe it's shelling.' Bow and gratitude to the creators and everyone who supports the Pristanište Foundation

I would like to express a deep gratitude for the assistance provided in a difficult time for me! Thanks for support and warm welcome. Administration of Pristaniste provided all kinds of support. Low bow and prosperity to everyone who was involved in this project
Dyakuyu! Spasibo! Thanks! Obrigada! Hvala!

Thank you for help with temporary place to live and possibility for my daughter to keep on training in comfort conditions, for acquaintance with lovely country - Montenegro.
Thank you for shelter, help and nice company. We hope that our victory is close and we will meet in other circumstances. We believe, hope and pray for our Ukraine all together!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Two weeks ago the Universe led me here – and within this time my heart and head returned to their places. I am endlessly grateful to Pristsniste for support, empathy, kindness and the light in eyes and hearts.
What you are doing is great and priceless with maximum sense and humanitarian importance. And Universe, people and each soul needs this!
I am very glad to get to know what you are doing, to feel it’s truth, open my heart and be a part of it as much as I can. In such a Universe and with such energies all “I” are switched off and only “WE” are present – isn’t it one of the main and the most important feeling in the life?
Thank you, Pristaniste.
Thanks to each and everyone there. All happiness, kindness and prosperity to you!

Thanks to Pristsniste and its team for hospitality. Most of my way here was by hitchhiking and of coursee having arrived to Montenegro I was seriously exhausted. Here I managed to have some rest, refresh and settle issues with further place to live and job. Once again, thank you so much!

I express my gratitude to the Pristanište Foundation and say thank you to every volunteer, coordinator, founder, and resident! Thank you, guys, for creating a place where people understand each other, where support and empathy come first! It's an incredible place, and you are incredible! I would like to give special thanks to the volunteer Andrey, a kind-hearted person who, without unnecessary words, was there from the very first day, ready to help with anything he could. Andrey, I wish peace for your country, strength to your family, and all the best to you personally!
Thank you for everything! Warmest regards.
Glory to Ukraine!
Freedom for Russia!
Long live Belarus!

I learned about Pristanište from a friend back in December 2022, and I hesitated to go until one «beautiful» moment when I burned out in Moscow, losing all sense of life. And then, from an atmosphere where I had grown accustomed to thinking that I was alone (or that there were very few of us), that the world was hostile and unfair, and that I was powerless against evil and lawlessness, I found myself in Pristanište — a world of kindness, trust, and care. I was warmly received by Andrey, who took me under his wing. Accommodation, groceries, a SIM card, assistance in a tour office — everything is meticulously organized by the foundation. And then came the meeting with a tutor, communication with a psychologist...

In the first few days, you simply cannot believe that care for you, support, and genuine attention are a reality, not a fairy tale! Pristanište is so much more than a shelter. It is an opportunity to meet interesting and wonderful people, to get acquainted with those whom, in Russia, especially in the bustling and crowded Moscow, you would hardly ever have the chance to meet.

Pristanište is not just a roof and an asylum — it is sincere communication, shared understanding, leisure, personal development, and the opportunity to participate in the most extraordinary events. It is a collective endeavor.
Huge thanks to Svetlana and Alexander Shmelev for creating this foundation, to Andrey, Taya, Lyudmila, and many, many others who support life in this home for everyone! The spirit of real life, for which we came into this world.

Here, you don’t feel like a stranger; it’s as if you’re in a new home where everyone is family. And you feel that way even when you "fly out of the nest«— there really are no former Pristanište residents! Pristanište is the people, and being among them, you realize that the future of Russia is being saved here.

I am grateful for the friendship that triumphs over war. I thank you for preserving a piece of my life and my soul here. I leave to take a break and «reboot», hoping that I don’t say good-bye to anyone forever...

With respect and deep gratitude, Svetlana Rudzievskaya

Love and Peace to everybody, as Pristanište gives it. With great gratitude. Leaving this wonderful place, I want to celebrate the whole foundation with admiration. Let the necessary, noble and peace-making work always bring only joy to the entire team of the Pristanište. Thank you! THANK YOU!!!
Ilya Bogomolov, Chairman of the Board of the NGO "International Medical Assistance" and just a human.

Thanks to the Pristanište for the care and human warmth. And for unconditional acceptance, of course, too. For the feeling of becoming part of a large community. For events and assistance in solving everyday issues. Andrey is a kind caring nanny in the best possible way. Thank you very much. It's a little sad to leave, but the huge gratitude for this wonderful respite just overwhelms me. Thank you for the wonderful tutors and volunteers leading the classes. I wish all the best to all involved.

Good bright people of the World! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this opportunity to be in this wonderful, beautiful place filled with love and warmth, both of nature and the people who created such a community and space. It's great that at this time of great change, people’s hearts unite and in action create Peace on this Earth!
I felt warmth, attention, help and support, met kind and bright people, and was inspired by all of this. This is a huge job on your part every day, but you do it with such love and warmth that it is very felt in everything.
May your activity multiply and bring good to you.

Pristaniste - YOU are forever in my heart!
You came my way at the most difficult times, lent a helping hand. This is very valuable to me and the people around me here.
THANK YOU! I will not forget you! My kitty and I are very grateful.

Thanks to Pristaniste for sheltering us for a while. We originally found out about it in the fall of 2022 and came here in February 2023.
You know what the most magical thing about this place is? - The people! Nastya and I were blown away by how kind, friendly, outgoing, and warm everyone here is.
Our cats, Mania and Yosya, are also grateful that they were allowed to be here. But now they are happy and live in peace in Podgorica.
Let Pristaniste continue bloom like a beautiful flower! And we will always come here.

Thank you very much for your help, support, kindness, and warmth! Take care! Wishing peace and happiness.

Pristanište, thank you very much! For giving shelter and your moral support 😊
You have interesting activities and a lot of cool stuff going on 😊
Our stay wasn’t long, but we still enjoyed it very much.
Wishing luck to everyone, it’s something that everyone needs here.

Pristanište is the best thing ever happened to me!

When I was fleeing Russia, I didn’t know what to do, who to turn to for help. Thanks to this organization, I now see many things differently. They welcomed me, gave me a roof over my head, and provided me with necessary contacts.

I was very touched by the fact that the administrators, Andrey and Anastasia, were sincere in their care for my psychological and physical well-being. Andrey, thank you for the stories! Nastya, thank you for the fruit and smiles!

Hopefully, I’ll see you again.

This is a story about profound gratitude.

Once upon a time (a long time ago) our travels took us to the Livana valley in the Georgian mountains. Night. Cold. Regular — as in asphalt and concrete — roads were non-existent there, and the one that did exist was being eroded by water and stones and washed away into the ravine… And out of nowhere appeared another traveler who took us to his house, gave us a place to stay and food and was offended when we offered to pay for his troubles. There and then we understood the nature of hospitality: If you meet in the mountains a person in need and don’t help them out, they will perish. That is, it’s not about being polite; it’s about life and death. That’s where this tradition comes from.

Friends, you are doing a good thing — ‘Good’ with a capital G! Your help, your support — it is priceless! When we arrived here and saw these wonderful people, these inviting rooms, the food, we couldn’t help but cry. Thank you, Nastya! Thank you, Andrey! Thank you for your kindness and openness, for quickly solving all our problems. And, of course, for your words of consolation and support!

Thank you to those kind angels behind your back — those people whose support makes Pristanište possible and to everyone who helps you go on. And, yes, it would have been very hard without your help. Keep up the good work!

And you can count on us.

The Zamyatin family

P.S. You attract wonderful people. Thank you to everyone for their stories, for their company, for their music. In these era-defining times, people get separated, evil becomes obvious, good becomes sublime. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY!

I am very grateful to the foundation for your help and support. What you do is very important to people who want to see PEACE in the world.
Thank you very much to all the employees for their work.
NO TO WAR!
GLORY TO UKRAINE!
FREEDOM TO RUSSIA!

Thank you very much to the Pristanište foundation — not only for providing a place to stay, but also for the support of the community. When you have to move and change places, you start to cherish being able to turn or simply talk to someone. I’m especially grateful to volunteers Anastasia, Andrey, and Lyudmila. I have never seen a place that is more hospitable and friendly than Pristanište and, probably, won’t see in the near future. Take care!

We are immensely grateful to the Pristanište foundation. We sincerely thank you for your understanding and your earnest help. On arrival, we were warmly welcomed and showed around. The volunteers were always available to give advice or help (especially with locations), which was very important, since it was a new country for us. Such kind and caring people make the world go around. Your help is valuable and will never be forgotten! I would like to say special thanks to our tutor Anna, administrator Andrey, and senior administrator Alyona.Thank you!

Hello Pristaniste!
I would like to thank you very much for the support you have provided. You are doing a big job. Thank you for the people I met here. I met very sympathetic and kind people here, I found new friends. You are cool!
With great respect for all who is doing this good deed!

Thank you very much for the provided rooms in the Pristaniste! It helped me a lot, and I was able to look around in a new country, meet new people and find a source of income. Special thanks to: 1) the organizers of the Pristaniste. 2) Alena, who promptly answered my questionnaire and invited me to the Pristaniste 3) administrator Yana, who met, provided the initial set of food, told about local customs, was always in touch and answered my questions 4) residents of the Pristaniste: Vladimir, Gregory, Maxim, Andrey, Elena, Taya, Anastasia and many others 5) all other kind people who I met in Montenegro.