Sofia Bettiza, BBC News | 05.07.2026
Ukraine’s parliament is considering a bill that would establish stricter regulations over the country’s surrogacy industry and would effectively ban surrogacy access for foreigners, who currently make up over 90% of intended parents. The bill, which has widespread support in parliament, is a response to concerns that Ukraine’s surrogacy industry does not address issues of exploitation of surrogates –– a critique that agencies reject.
The Conversation | March 26, 2026
New research on Ukrainian surrogates’ experiences in Georgia–following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine–show how surrogates lack strong legal protections and would benefit from clearer and more thorough policy-making on cross-border surrogacy.
COMPAS | April 30, 2025
Georgia has become a destination for surrogacy, especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Demand is so high, clinics recruit women from other countries in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, to come work as surrogates.
Al Jazeera | April 9, 2025
Initially, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted Ukraine’s low-regulation, low-cost surrogacy industry catering to foreigners. Since then, Ukrainian agencies have adapted to war conditions to provide services, yet surrogates are paid less and experience worsened conditions.
La Croix International | September 10, 2024
In part due to the war in Ukraine, demand for surrogacy in nearby Georgia has surged, so much so that there is a shortage of surrogates. In response, clinics have recruited people from Central Asia, whom they pay less for the same services.
Progress Educational Trust | September 25, 2023
With the growing global demand for surrogacy, and a narrowing range of options as countries close their doors to foreigners seeking surrogates, intended parents are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate cross-border surrogacy arrangements in an ethical way.
Above the Law | September 6, 2023
Nine medical team workers at one of the most reputable fertility clinics in Crete were arrested for human trafficking: they are accused of bringing impoverished women from other countries to be egg donors and surrogates; buying and selling embryos; and other crimes.
CBC | July 3, 2023
Italy is not alone in its efforts to ban surrogacy: the anti-surrogacy movement is rapidly gaining momentum among the newly empowered far-right parties throughout Europe, part of their broader effort to disenfranchise LGBTQ families.
RTE | June 13, 2023
Two Irish filmmakers received funding from Netflix to make a short documentary about an Irish mother who brought her Ukrainian surrogate and family to live with her own family after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The key theme of the film is “connection.”
Above the Law | May 31, 2023
In April 2023, the Ukrainian parliament considered and ultimately rejected legislation that would have paused surrogacy arrangements with foreign intended parents during wartime.
