War in Ukraine: in kyiv, born underground

En the very center of kyiv, a few minutes from Maidan Square, an imposing Soviet-style building contains a maternity ward. The windows on the ground floor are covered with newspaper. Sandbags invade the space. For a month, this hospital has become a fortress. At the reception, the atmosphere is heavy. Suspicious glances land on strangers. The Ukrainians fear at every moment that “Russian saboteurs”, spies from the Kremlin, will enter the premises.

Since February 24, the date of the start of the Russian invasion, the maternity floors have been deserted. The establishment has moved to the basements. At the entrance, Oleksandra Lysenko, vice-director of the maternity ward, welcomes us. The bags under his small eyes betray heavy fatigue. Corn…