Woman Gives Birth As She Shelters From Bombs In Kyiv

A woman in Kyiv has given birth while sheltering from Russian bombs, as the invasion reaches the capital.

Amid the chaos and fear, the woman was said to be 'happy' following the most challenging of births.

Chairwoman of Democracy in Action Conference, Hannah Hopko, shared the news on social media, posting a photo of newborn Mia.

Elsewhere, in a hospital in Starobilsk, near Luhansk in the east of Ukraine, a woman gave birth in the basement of the maternity ward.

In a post shared yesterday (Friday 25 February), highlighting the terrifying conditions on 'day three of danger warning', the hospital said: "Meanwhile, in the basement of the maternity ward, in conditions, far from those who deserve a new life - the voice of the newborn... It's a boy!"

Staff at another hospital were forced to create a makeshift bomb shelter in a bid to care for newborns amid the Russian invasion.

Around a dozen tiny babies were being cared for at the neonatal unit of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Children's Clinical Hospital in Dnipro and were quickly moved to its basement as bombs began to drop on the country. 

In footage obtained by The New York Times, nurses could be seen carefully caring for the babies in what appeared to be a storage room.

In the clip the babies can be seen snuggled up in different coloured blankets on makeshift beds and cots while nursing staff could be seen checking on their patients, with some using inflatable bags to deliver air to those who need it. 

Dr Denis Surkov, chief of the neonatal unit, at Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Children's Clinical Hospital told The New York Times: "This is the NICU. In a bomb shelter. Can you imagine? This is our reality."

The babies were rushed to the makeshift bomb shelter early on Thursday morning after the city was struck by Russian missiles. 

Dr Surkov said people are feeling 'nervous, very confused'. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has refused to leave the country as Russian forces close in on Kyiv.

In a tweet posted an hour before the time of writing, he said: "Ukraine is fighting the invader with weapons in hands, defending its freedom and European future.

"Discussed with Ursula von der Leyen effective assistance to our country from the EU in this heroic struggle. I believe that the #EU also chooses Ukraine."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information