Nurses And Doctors Care For Newborns In Makeshift Bomb Shelter In Ukrainian Hospital

Staff at a Ukrainian hospital had to create a makeshift bomb shelter in an attempt to keep newborn babies safe following Russia’s invasion. 

Around a dozen tiny babies were being cared for at the neonatal unit of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Children's Clinical Hospital in Dnipro and were quickly moved to its basement as bombs began to drop on the country. 

In footage obtained by the New York Times, nurses could be seen carefully caring for the babies in what appeared to be a storage room.

In the clip the babies can be seen snuggled up in different coloured blankets on makeshift beds and cots while nursing staff could be seen checking on their patients, with some using inflatable bags to deliver air to those who need it. 

Dr. Denis Surkov, chief of the neonatal unit, at Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Children's Clinical Hospital told the New York Times: “This is the NICU. In a bomb shelter. Can you imagine? This is our reality.”

The babies were rushed to the makeshift bomb shelter early on Thursday morning after the city was struck by Russian missiles. 

Dr Surkov said people are feeling ‘nervous, very confused’. 

Missiles hit targets in Dnipro, Kharkiv and a number of other places.

Yesterday, hundreds of Ukrainians lined up to donate blood after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the public to help those wounded. 

Speaking in a public address, he said: "In those hospitals where blood is needed, please, I ask you to join and become blood donors for our defenders."

And people were quick to respond, with footage from local and international news organisations on the ground show men queuing up around official buildings to sign up for the fight against Putin's army.

One Ukrainian man said: "This will be the beginning of the end of the Russian Empire.

"Let's unite! This is a test for each of us. We are strong, do not break us!"

Just hours after Zelenskyy’s message, head of the donor selection unit Yuriy Verkhovenko said around 200 people had already donated blood.

He said: "Given the queues, there are many more people wanting to donate their blood to create reserves for exceptional situations."

A member of medical staff on site said: "Whether they will suffice or not, I can't tell as of now."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information