Born during a Russian attack: Zelenskyy meets mother of baby boy born in a shelter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited one of Kyiv’s maternity hospitals that was damaged in a Russian ballistic missile attack on the night of September 23–24.

During the attack, pregnant women and medical staff were forced to take shelter. That night, a baby boy named Kyrylo was born there. Despite the strike on the maternity hospital, none of the patients or staff were injured.

Zelenskyy met the newborn’s mother, Aliona Yefremova, and congratulated her on the birth of her son. She is originally from Luhansk but moved to Kyiv with her husband in 2014 because of the war.

The president also spoke with women preparing to give birth at the hospital and met with medical staff. He presented state awards to healthcare workers.

Following the attack, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of keeping shelters at maternity hospitals in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in proper condition.