Oksana Novikova is an ethnic Russian who fled Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014. In Lviv, Western Ukraine, she opened a cafe and helped many other IDPs to adapt. Read and watch more in our project Stories from Ukraine.
This is the only Crimean cafe that survived quarantine in Lviv.
Its owner Oksana Novikova is an ethnic Russian who actively resisted the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014. She moved to Lviv right before Russia's illegal referendum.
With her sister, she opened two bakeries that very well represent the diversity of Crimea. They offer all kinds of pastry, from macarons to Crimean Tatar kubete.
"Not only Crimean Tatars rejected the occupation", Oksana says.
She has helped many others to flee and start new lives in Lviv. Her team includes the displaced Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars and even Armenians.
But the bakery owes its success to its loyal clients in Lviv's residential districts which also remind her of her native Simferopol.
The material was prepared with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation within the framework of the project Stories from Ukraine. The material reflects the position of the authors and does not necessarily coincide with the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.
