Surrogate-Born Babies in Ukraine Escape War Zone

Couples Worldwide Anxious Over Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Ukraine Surrogacy Legalized, Affordable Costs Attract Many Couples

[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] Stories of babies born through surrogate mothers in Ukraine safely escaping have been reported by foreign media.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 27th (local time), the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that five Argentine families and their newborns, who had been staying in Ukraine for surrogate births, safely escaped to neighboring Poland. The Ministry stated that, with the cooperation of Ukrainian and Polish authorities, they were able to cross the border after a difficult 23-hour operation and will soon return to Argentina.

Argentine couples who flew to Ukraine ahead of the surrogate mothers' due dates have been staying at the Argentine embassy residence in the capital Kyiv, seeking ways to leave after air routes were cut off due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine is known as a country where surrogacy is legal and costs are lower than in other countries, attracting many couples not only from Argentina but around the world.

According to the Washington Post (WP), in some U.S. states where surrogacy is permitted, costs exceed $100,000 (about 120 million KRW), whereas in Ukraine, it is less than half that amount.

Some couples who went to pick up their newborns have been stranded, while others are anxiously waiting, unable to meet their babies born amid the war after the invasion.

WP reported on the 27th the story of a Chicago couple who had twins through a Ukrainian surrogate on the 24th. The twins were born seven weeks earlier than the due date before the couple could even travel to Ukraine and are currently staying in a hospital basement in Kyiv. The couple is trying to find a way to escape with not only the twins but also the surrogate mother, her six-year-old son, and two babies born to another American couple's surrogate.

Australian media ABC also reported the story of a Melbourne couple anxiously waiting in neighboring Poland after their Ukrainian surrogate gave birth to a daughter 10 weeks early.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.