Ukraine's surrogacy industry is thriving despite the country's conflict with Russia, The Guardian recently reported. However, alternate reports have revealed that the industry is riddled with corruption and abuse, yet enjoys the protection of authorities in Kiev and Washington.

Ukraine has long been known as a surrogacy hotspot, with a quarter of the world's surrogate babies born there in 2018. That percentage has likely increased since Moscow banned the practice for foreign couples last year, with Russian lawmakers citing the need to "prevent the trafficking of our children."

The fighting in Ukraine hasn't dulled demand, The Guardian reported on Wednesday, noting that more than 1,000 babies have been born in Ukrainian surrogacy clinics since Russia launched its military operation last year. Most of these clinics' customers, the newspaper noted, hailed from Italy, Romania, Germany and Britain.

Some 600 of these babies were born at a clinic in Kiev operated by BioTexCom, a German-owned company that promises its wealthy clients "the joy of parenthood."