"Seeing expectant mothers about to give birth amidst the bombings and explosions brings tears to our eyes. The mothers tremble, but they feel a sense of peace when their babies are placed on their chests. They feel they must protect their children, and everything changes. Ukraine's future lies here," said Alla Lobas, head midwife at Kyiv Clinical Hospital.
Lobas is among the medical staff working with a mix of fear and hope in a maternity ward set up in a bomb shelter in Kyiv. Many Ukrainian medical facilities have moved underground as Russia has intensified its air strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Each cry signifies a new life. However, midwives report hearing these cries less frequently, as Ukraine's population has been declining sharply over three years of conflict.
According to data released by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Ukraine recorded 18.6 deaths per 1,000 people in 2024, the highest rate globally, mainly due to military casualties in the conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian government statistics indicate the current birth rate is 0.9 per woman, down from 1.16 before 2022. The country has the world's lowest birth rate and highest death rate.
Ukraine's population has decreased by over 10 million people, or 25%, since the conflict began in early 2022, largely due to millions fleeing abroad and hundreds of thousands of people of childbearing age killed or injured.
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A woman holds her baby in a bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 3/2022. Photo: Reuters |
A woman holds her baby in a bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 3/2022. Photo: Reuters
Liliya Ozel, her husband, and their two daughters, ages 4 and 7, sought refuge in Turkey when the conflict began. However, upon learning she was pregnant with her third child, she brought her daughters back to Ukraine, wanting her baby to be born in their homeland.
She went to Kyiv Clinical Hospital in May to prepare for the birth. However, Ozel pointed out the challenges of rebuilding life in Ukraine, where children often experience psychological distress from air raid sirens. "Sometimes my youngest daughter even wets the bed. We want to return together, but if the conflict continues and it's not safe, we will choose safety for our children," she said.
Growing up amidst war is a difficult experience for every child. Olena Rozvadovska, co-founder of the Voice of Children Charitable Foundation, which provides psychological support to children in war zones, said all Ukrainian children are affected by the conflict. "Some believe war is all they know," she said.
However, fear hasn't extinguished Rozvadovska's desire to be a mother.
"Life and death are constant companions here. You could die at any moment, which makes you think about what truly matters in life. It's your loved ones. We have to fight for the next generation with everything we have. So, have children," she said.
Thuy Lam (Reuters)
