Eight months pregnant and surrounded by the darkness of war-torn Kyiv, Yuliia Chumak refuses to abandon her home despite having no power, no heat, and a baby due any day.
Story Snapshot
- Yuliia Chumak, eight months pregnant, endures life in Kyiv without electricity or heating due to Russian infrastructure attacks
- Despite dangerous conditions, she refuses to evacuate with her three-year-old child, choosing to stay in her beloved city
- Kyiv hospitals continue maternity services using backup generators while the power grid remains damaged
- Her philosophy: “There will never be a good moment to give birth” reflects broader civilian resilience during wartime
When Home Means Everything
Chumak’s decision defies conventional wisdom about pregnant women seeking safety. “I love Kyiv. I have a good job here. It’s interesting. I don’t see the need for myself to leave,” she declared. Her choice represents thousands of Ukrainian families who’ve calculated that familiar hardships beat uncertain displacement. The decision becomes more complex when you’re responsible for both a toddler and an unborn child.
The winter of 2025-2026 has proven particularly brutal for Kyiv residents. Russian forces systematically target power plants, electrical substations, and transmission lines, creating cascading failures across the capital’s energy grid. Pregnant women face compounded risks when basic necessities like heating disappear, yet Chumak maintains her daily routines despite the mounting challenges.
Medical Care Under Emergency Conditions
Kyiv’s hospitals have adapted to operate critical maternity services using backup generators, but these emergency measures can’t replicate normal conditions. Medical equipment requires consistent power, and heating becomes essential for newborn care. The city’s healthcare workers perform deliveries knowing that any moment could bring another blackout, forcing immediate decisions about patient care priorities.
Chumak’s situation illuminates a broader crisis affecting thousands of pregnant Ukrainian women. The combination of winter weather, damaged infrastructure, and active conflict creates a perfect storm of vulnerability. Yet hospitals continue functioning, medical staff remain committed, and women like Chumak choose to trust the system despite its obvious limitations and daily uncertainties.
Philosophy of Wartime Motherhood
Perhaps most striking is Chumak’s philosophical approach to her circumstances. “There will never be a good moment to give birth to a child. Ideal conditions, an ideal country. There will always be a risk of some crisis, some conflict. What shall we do now? Stop living?” This perspective reframes the entire discussion about safety and timing during wartime.
Her words challenge the assumption that people should flee danger when pregnant. Instead, she argues for acceptance of imperfect circumstances and the continuation of normal life cycles despite extraordinary external pressures. This mindset appears to sustain many Ukrainians who’ve chosen to remain in contested areas rather than abandon their homes, careers, and communities during the prolonged conflict.
Sources:
Personal Story: Pregnant Mother in Kyiv Braves Power Cuts and Cold
