Monday midday and Eka Grbich was at a private maternity clinic in Kyiv for an appointment when she received devastating news - Ukraine had been hit by a massive Russian attack. The capital's main children's hospital, Okhmatdyt, as well as numerous flats throughout the city, were targeted, leading to loss of life and widespread destruction.
Grbich shared alarming images of the damage on her Instagram account after witnessing a Russian cruise missile strike the children's hospital that day. She recounted how she suddenly found herself amidst chaos and fear - not knowing if she would survive.
The clinic, known as Adonis, was located near Kyiv's Dnipro River. The attack caused extensive damage to the building, resulting in debris scattered everywhere. Grbich, without her shoes and with a bleeding leg from one of the falling fragments, sought refuge in the basement along with other staff members at the clinic.
The following day brought more devastation as a second missile struck nearby flats, killing dozens including Eka's friend Tetiana Sharova and others who were visiting or working there. Grbich recounted her harrowing escape from these flats amidst the explosions.
The clinic also suffered significant damage during this second attack, with power outages affecting essential services such as air conditioning. Despite the challenges, staff and patients managed to evacuate safely to a different building for treatment.
Grbich was eventually able to reach her husband in London, who had come back earlier that week to support his mother through terminal illness. The couple discussed their initial beliefs about Kyiv's air defenses and the unexpected scale of destruction caused by the missile attacks. Grbich shared plans for a future trip back to London with hopes of continuing her work in promoting Ukrainian fashion brands internationally.
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