Deep within a region under Russian military presence, a lone Ukrainian maternity ward continues to operate, providing solace and new life amidst the chaos.
In the embattled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, the sounds of newborn cries echo through the corridors of Sloviansk City Clinical Hospital. Amidst the chaos of war, young mother Anastasia tenderly cradles her one-day-old daughter, Vasilisa, while sharing her private moments with NPR. With an 18-month-old child at home, the resilient 25-year-old mother chooses to stay in her hometown, even amidst the ongoing offensive, as long as the situation remains bearable.
Sloviansk, once renowned for its salt mines and mud bath spas, has been under constant assault since 2014 when separatist forces, backed by Russia, took control for three months before being pushed back by Ukraine's forces. Today, the town endures a war-weary existence, yet many residents remain steadfast in their determination to persevere.
Having grown up in Sloviansk, Anastasia vividly remembers the brief Russian-backed takeover of her town in 2014. With another full-scale invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022, the children are innocent bystanders who are not yet old enough to comprehend the daily air raid sirens or witness the buildings reduction to rubble. However, Anastasia wishes for her children to witness peace and safety, and, despite the increasing danger, hopes to maintain a semblance of normal life for them.
Despite the bitter divisiveness that the conflict ignited, Dr. Valentina Hlushchenko, speaking while showing NPR around the hospital, emphasizes that the question of whether the region should be part of Russia or Ukraine is no longer a topic of conversation among the people in Sloviansk. The painful memories of how the question tore families apart in 2014 are too fresh, and everyone focuses on trying to live their lives peacefully, avoiding discussions that may offend or hurt.
Operating at 90% capacity, the hospital in Sloviansk serves as the last functioning maternity ward in Ukrainian-controlled Donetsk amidst the encroaching Russian forces. The hospital's director, Volodymyr Ivanenko, notes that, even while managing through missile strikes, power cuts, and water shortages, they remain committed to providing medical care to Ukrainian citizens until the very end.
As Russia presses forward, heavily pregnant patients like Khrystyna Deshchenko and her husband Valentyn grapple with the decision to move to a safer location farther west. The couple's concern for their child's safety and the uncertainty about the future of the Donetsk province fills them with worry, as they deliberate whether to stay in their war-torn homeland or seek refuge in a safer part of the country.
Ukrainian father Dmytro Kluchnikov, who grew up in Sloviansk, shares his family's story with NPR. Having temporarily evacuated to a town farther west, Kluchnikov reflects on a sense of displacement and isolation. Returning to Sloviansk, "home" feels familiar and comforting, a sanctuary under siege, where everything is theirs. Despite the constant threat of Russian bombardment, Kluchnikov emphasizes that if the Russians ever capture Sloviansk, his family will have no choice but to leave.
As sirens blare in the distance, reminders of the relentless conflict that engulfs Sloviansk and the surrounding area, Kluchnikov's five-year-old son, Artem, plays happily on a playground by the town hall, oblivious to the chaos that envelops his town. Yet, even amidst the joy issued by children's laughter, the harsh realities of war continue to loom on the horizon for Sloviansk and the people who call it their home.
Kateryna Malofieieva contributed reporting from Sloviansk, Ukraine. NPR's Hanna Palamarenko and Polina Lytvynova contributed from Kyiv.
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- The Sloviansk City Clinical Hospital, despite being in a region marred by war-and-conflicts, continues to function as the last operating maternity ward in Ukrainian-controlled Donetsk, providing health-and-wellness services to citizens amidst the ongoing offensive.
- Even with a newborn daughter and another child at home, Anastasia, a resilient 25-year-old mother, chooses to stay in her hometown of Sloviansk, hoping to maintain a semblance of normal life for her family despite the ongoing danger.
- In the midst of war, general-news outlets like NPR share the stories of Ukrainian citizens living in Sloviansk, offering insights into their hopes for peace and safety, and their determination to persevere against the backdrop of war-weary existence.
