The Irish Mail on Sunday

As Putin’s missiles rain death on Kyiv...new life arrives in the besieged city’s bomb shelters

- By Natasha Livingston­e

IN THE face of terrible evil, two miracles arrived into the world beneath the streets of Ukraine.

For a few moments, the sound of Putin’s bombs was replaced with the cries of innocent babies – born as their terrified mothers sought shelter from the missiles.

Baby Mia arrived just before 8.30pm on Friday as her mother was rushed undergroun­d to a Metro station in Kyiv by police.

A poignant picture of the sleeping girl, her hand entwined with her mother’s, serves as a reminder of hope even in the darkest hour.

In the background, families can be seen taking refuge from the onslaught. The story was shared by former Ukrainian MP Hanna Hopko, who said the unnamed mother was ‘happy’ after a ‘challengin­g birth’.

‘When Putin kills Ukrainians we call mothers of Russia and Belarus to protest against Russia war in Ukraine. We defend lives and humanity,’ Ms Hopko tweeted.

Some 725km away in the eastern region of Luhansk, a baby boy began his life in the basement of the Starobilsk

Multidisci­plinary Hospital, which reacted to warnings of attacks by sheltering the wounded in reception and moving its maternity ward under ground.

The hospital posted images of the young mother on a hospital bed in the dingy bunker, describing it as ‘far from the conditions a new life deserves’. In another picture, the mother hugs her baby to her chest.

Meanwhile, a British couple are reported to be stuck in Kyiv after travelling there to collect their twins, born to a surrogate mother.

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 ?? ?? BASEMENT BABY: A boy is born at Starobilsk Hospital TOUCHING: Newborn Mia holds her mother’s hand in a Kyiv Metro station
BASEMENT BABY: A boy is born at Starobilsk Hospital TOUCHING: Newborn Mia holds her mother’s hand in a Kyiv Metro station

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