Ukrainian Surrogates Who Escaped War Zone Must Return to Ukraine to Give Birth to Clients' Babies

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By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Mar 11, 10:24 am

Photo: (Photo : Omar Marques/Getty Images)

Ukrainian surrogates carrying the babies of their wealthy foreign clients have a major problem in their hands. With Russian forces ramping up their attacks in the country, these women now have to choose between remaining in Ukraine until giving birth or leaving the country to escape the bombings and return to the war-torn nation just in time for their delivery.

Ukrainian surrogates are faced with this dilemma because of complex legal requirements. Soon-to-be mothers in one Kyiv surrogacy clinic have been ordered to give birth to their babies in a bomb shelter that has been turned into a maternity ward, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine because of the Russian invasion.

In an interview, Denis Herman, a legal adviser for the BioTexCom clinic, told Newsflash that several women at their surrogacy center have already fled as the Russian attacks worsened. He confirmed, however, that arrangements have been made for those surrogates to return to the company's medical center in Ukraine when they are closer to their due date.

Surrogates will face legal problems if they give birth outside Ukraine

Herman advised the surrogates not to give birth in Ukraine's neighboring countries as surrogacy is banned in many places proximal to the war-torn nation. Herman explained that if surrogates give birth outside of Ukraine, they would face "lots of problems with the paperwork and establishing a parent-child relationship."

Herman said that issues will arise because "under the legislation of these countries, a legal mother is always a woman who gave birth to a child regardless of a genetic relationship." That problem will be avoided if pregnant mothers give birth in Ukraine, where the practice of surrogacy is deemed legal.

To help their surrogates during this time of crisis and avoid the scenario of them leaving Ukraine, the clinic arranged for a bomb shelter in Kyiv to be turned into a makeshift maternity ward. Only expectant mothers can stay in this facility, giving the company's surrogates a relatively safe place to stay in Ukraine while the war rages on.

Herman advises surrogates to stay in Ukraine for their safety

Herman argued that keeping the surrogates in Ukraine eliminates possible legal obstacles and ensures their safety, with reports stating that Russian forces have violated the ceasefire agreements. Herman said that the roads in Ukraine are perilous, and the railway stations in the country are still overcrowded. According to Herman, the health of the surrogate mother and the unborn child are at risk with such factors in play.

However, Ukrainian surrogates are growing concerned that the parents won't be able to pick up the babies they paid for. BioTexCom's price range is around $43,450 to $70,675, which is still lower than surrogacy rates in the United States, where prices can soar to more than $100,000 in some cases.