Sometimes, parents have to make drastic decisions to best care for their children. Sadly, they may realize that as much as they want to be able to raise their kids, they simply can’t. Options exist for parents who find themselves in that position. They could drop them off at a safe haven such as a fire station or hospital. Or if they have the time, they could put them up for adoption. However, there are also questionable ways to do so.
A couple in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, is facing possible jail time because they sold their newborn. Selling their baby was definitely not the safest or best possible option, no matter how desperate they were.
The Mirror US reported that early on in the process, authorities became aware of the plot to sell the baby. As a result, they opened a trafficking investigation, placing the couple under surveillance.
Officers allowed the couple to meet with potential buyers under controlled circumstances, unbeknownst to the pair. The prospective buyer then gave them the initial payment. According to authorities, the couple planned to use the $10,000 US “on their own personal needs.”
In a post on Telegram, the Mykolaiv National Police shared that the couple, a 21-year-old woman and her 38-year-old partner, who has been identified as the baby’s father, began looking for a potential buyer when the woman was nearing the end of her pregnancy. After receiving the bulk of the payment, they turned over the baby near a maternity hospital.
That’s when they were arrested. The post includes pictures of the pair being detained by police, as well as the thousands of dollars they received after reportedly selling their baby.
According to authorities, the couple was arrested on suspicion under Part 3 of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — trafficking in persons involving a minor, per The Mirror US. They are being held with the possibility of bail.
The Prosecutor General’s Office noted that the final handover happened on January 2, 2026, one day after the child was born, The Mirror US reported. Details about the baby’s condition haven’t been given, but they did confirm the baby is under state guardianship.
