Prematurely-born twin babies were rescued from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv amid shelling by Russian forces.
Twins, Lenny and Moishe, were rescued by Project DYNAMO, an American civilian and ally rescue charity, during the conflict and transported from Ukraine to Poland.
The rescue mission, which the organisation is calling “GEMINI”, was completed with the help of two doctors, two neonatal specialists, one nurse and a Ukrainian ambulance crew.
Project DYNAMO reported that their rescue volunteers were able to hear shelling “within earshot of the hospital” during their escape.
Bryan Stern, co-founder of Project DYNAMO, said: “During operational planning and execution, I was anxious because premature babies, under the best of circumstances in the best hospitals, are fragile and vulnerable. When we put them in a war zone surrounded by Russian artillery and troops, that presents a complicated medical situation and makes it much scarier”.
The babies were evacuated in incubators via an ambulance, which was accompanied by an escort of the charity’s volunteers.
Stern added: “From an evacuation perspective, having to move these fragile babies through these war zones by vehicle, is wrought with peril and danger. I’m overcome with joy and happiness to be able to help the family by delivering Lenny and Moishe”.
“The Project DYNAMO team, in concert with others, all worked together to deliver these bundles of joy to two happy families. Once the operation was complete, with happy parents, I felt like a delivery room doctor introducing children to their parents for the very first time”.
The rescue convoy travelled more than 700 miles from Kyiv to PRO-FAMILIA Hospital in Rzeszow, Poland. There, the American twin boys, and another premature British baby girl who was also rescued, were reunited with their families.
Right To Life UK spokesperson, Catherine Robinson, said: “These hopeful stories continue to shine through a dark period for the country. We wish the children and their families all the best in the midst of these very difficult circumstances, as well as all those whose lives have been terribly affected by this war”.
