Ukrainian woman flees war, delivers baby in NYC

Tuesday night, Ostafieva arrived in New York on a plane from Poland, fleeing her home in Kyiv, Ukraine. Ostafieva is expected to give birth in two weeks.

After spending four days in a bomb shelter in Kyiv, a Ukrainian woman made a four-day drive to Poland.

After three days at the Poland border, she fled from Warsaw to JFK to stay with her friend who lives in Manhattan.

“We’re all in hell, emotionally and physically,” said Manhattan resident Anna Arima, waiting to pick up her friend, a pregnant Ukrainian refugee, at JFK Airport.

Arima was born and raised in Ukraine, where she met her friend, Olesya Ostafieva, through work. Arima moved to New York seven years ago.

“She just messaged me that she was in a cabin with a pilot. They were making sure that she was in a good condition, that she wouldn’t deliver on the plane,” she added.

“I don’t remember what day of the week today is, but I know that today’s the thirteenth day of war,” said Ostafieva.

Ostafieva celebrated her daughter with a baby shower, the Wednesday before the war began. The next morning, she woke up at 5 A.M. to the sound of explosions.

“I didn’t believe that Putin go so far and kill civilians so I decided to stay in Kyiv,” Ostafieva explained.

She stayed in a bomb shelter under her home for four days, before deciding it was time to get out.

The plan now is for Ostafieva to deliver her baby in New York, but she’s already dreaming of when she can return home to her parents.