A Co Kerry couple have said they will travel to Ukraine on Wednesday to meet their first child, a baby boy called Luke who was born through surrogacy five days early in the city of Lviv.

Despite concerns about security issues due to the ongoing threat of conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the Dermot and Dorothy Moynihan will travel to Ukraine via Poland and hope to be holding their baby on Thursday morning.

Mr Moynihan told RTÉ radio’s News at One that while they respected the advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs urging Irish people not to travel to Ukraine while there remains a threat of conflict, “that isn’t an option for us. This is our first child.”

The couple’s sole concern was the health of the baby. “We’ve waited so long, so we will definitely be travelling through Krackow.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/irish-couple-aim-to-meet-child-born-via-surrogacy-in-ukraine-despite-security-fears-1.4803004

Irish couples with babies about to be born by way of surrogate mothers in Ukraine may find it “impossible” to heed the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs not to travel there, a Government politician who has been speaking with them has said.

A number of Irish couples whose babies are due to be born in the coming days are already in Ukraine, while others will have to make a decision shortly as to whether they should travel to Ukraine despite the possibility of imminent war.

“People will want to be there to protect their babies in what will potentially be a conflict,” said Fine Gael Senator Mary Seery-Kearney, who spoke with some of the couples after the department issued advice on Saturday that people should not travel to Ukraine.

“Of course under no circumstances can the Irish State advise people that it is okay to travel to what may be a war zone, a conflict zone, but you can understand that a parent’s impulse would be to protect their child.”

Approximately 14 babies are due to be born in Ukraine in the period to May by way of surrogate mothers acting for Irish couples.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/not-going-to-ukraine-may-be-impossible-for-expectant-irish-couples-using-surrogacy-1.4801319

A British couple in Ukraine have described the “bizarre” and “worrying” wait for their surrogate-born baby’s emergency travel document.

Thousands of Britons are being urged to leave the country immediately over growing concerns that Russia could launch an invasion in the coming days, despite diplomatic efforts to avert war.

Ben Garratt, 40, and his wife, Alice live in Queen’s Park, north London, but moved to Kyiv in December where their son was born thanks to the “very different surrogacy laws” in Ukraine that allow for a swifter IVF and surrogacy process.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ukraine-foreign-office-british-alice-ivf-b2013781.html

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – With tensions escalating on the Russian border, one native Pittsburgh family is forever grateful they were able to get their newborn out of Ukraine safely.

Pam Surano has the story of a family who went overseas to use an International surrogacy agency and are counting their blessings.

When the Banno’s left for Ukraine they knew there were escalating tensions, but at that point, nothing in the world could have stopped them from bringing their little girl home.

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2022/02/14/native-pittsburgh-family-evacuate-ukraine-with-newborn-girl/

Ukrainian surrogacy companies now hold over a quarter of the global surrogacy market since a series of human rights violations caused India, Thailand, and Nepal to close their borders. Similar violations are occurring in Ukraine, including the abandonment and trafficking of children and the abuse of surrogates. The Ukrainian government is not taking action, despite concerns expressed by both lawmakers and surrogates that the industry engages in unethical practices.

https://jpia.princeton.edu/news/lessons-ukraine-shifting-international-surrogacy-policy-protect-women-and-children

August 2020

KYIV, Ukraine — Tears streamed down

Yevhenia Troyan’s face as her flight took off from Northern Cyprus, one of the odd corners of Europe where Ukrainian surrogacy agencies have set up shop.

The flight in February was her last chance to return home to Ukraine before its borders slammed shut with coronavirus travel bans. But she had to leave — abandon, she felt — the baby girl she had just given birth to on behalf of a lesbian couple in London.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/15/world/europe/ukraine-baby-surrogate.html