Missing for 10 days, Ukrainian model found in Dubai with broken spine; Family alleges sex trafficking

Ukrainian model Maria Kovalchuk, 20, who went missing for 10 days after attending a hotel party in Dubai, was found on the roadside with severe injuries, including a broken spine and limbs. She was discovered in a bloodied condition and unable to speak. She was immediately hospitalized and has since undergone four life-saving surgeries.

Kovalchuk had informed her friends on March 9 that she was going to a hotel party. Two days later, she missed her scheduled flight to Thailand, raising concerns among her family. After more than a week without contact, she was found critically injured and without identification or a phone. Her mother has traveled from Norway to be by her side.

Dubai police have stated that Kovalchuk sustained injuries after entering a restricted construction site and falling from a height. “A comprehensive investigation has revealed that she sustained serious injuries after entering a restricted construction site alone and falling from a height,” authorities said. However, her family has rejected this explanation, alleging that she may have been trafficked and abused.

Russian media reports suggest that Kovalchuk may have attended a gathering where Eastern European models are allegedly targeted for exploitation. Reports also mention concerns that she may have been a victim of a "Porta Potty" party, where women are allegedly paid to engage in extreme and degrading acts. Her family has claimed she was "raped for several days" before being abandoned.

Kovalchuk was reportedly last seen meeting two men linked to the modeling industry in Dubai. She had informed her family that she planned to stay the night with them. Her whereabouts over the next 10 days remain unclear, and there is ongoing speculation about whether she was forced into sexual slavery. Her mother, providing updates on social media, stated, “She is getting medical treatment, and everything will be alright.”

Authorities have confirmed that she remains hospitalized under medical supervision. The case has drawn significant attention due to concerns over human trafficking and the safety of foreign models in Dubai. Investigations are ongoing, with no official confirmation yet on whether any arrests have been made.