Russia's invasion of Ukraine has driven thousands of women into commercial surrogacy as an economic survival mechanism. Twenty-two-year-old Karina Tarasenko, displaced from Bakhmut when her home was destroyed, turned to surrogacy after struggling to afford basic necessities for her family in Kyiv. She is currently six months pregnant with a Chinese couple's embryo and will earn approximately £12,500 upon birth—roughly double Ukraine's average annual salary. Prior to the war, Ukraine was the world's second-largest commercial surrogacy hub, and despite the conflict's disruptions, the industry has nearly recovered to pre-war levels.

Ukraine's parliament is now considering legislation that would ban foreign access to surrogacy services, effectively eliminating the industry that currently serves approximately 95 percent international clients. This policy shift carries significant implications for vulnerable Ukrainian women who have relied on surrogacy income during economic collapse caused by the war. The proposed ban reflects growing concerns about exploitation and aligns with Ukraine's broader demographic crisis, as military casualties and displacement have devastated birthrates.

Women's rights activists argue the surrogacy industry exploits economically desperate women through aggressive marketing that explicitly targets wartime hardship. Major clinics have faced criticism for offensive advertising campaigns, and Ukraine's largest surrogacy provider, BioTexCom, has been investigated on suspicion of human trafficking. Supporters of the ban contend that a nation experiencing severe population loss should prioritize protecting its own women rather than facilitating international reproduction commodification.