Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

World Service,07 May 2026,49 mins

Ukraine could ban foreigners using commercial surrogates

Newsday

Available for 29 days

Ukraine has been one of the world’s leading hubs for commercial surrogacy, attracting couples from around the world thanks to lower costs and more relaxed laws. Even after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the industry has continued to operate, with fertility clinics adapting to the realities of war. Now, a proposed law being debated in Ukraine’s parliament could ban surrogacy for foreign parents. We report from Kyiv. Experts have told the BBC they have “serious concerns” about a widespread and growing trend of AI-generated characters advertising fitness programmes on social media. And we look at the visit of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Vatican. Will he be smoothing over relations between the Trump administration and Pope Leo? Presenters: James Copnall and Anne Soy. (Photo: Ukraine surrogacy. Credit: BBC).

Programme Website
More episodes