HomeWorld'Spine broken, limbs crushed, left in coma': Ukrainian model alleges brutal assault by 'rich Russian kids' in Dubai

'Spine broken, limbs crushed, left in coma': Ukrainian model alleges brutal assault by 'rich Russian kids' in Dubai

Maria is now recovering in Norway, where her mother lives, but remains wheelchair-bound and uncertain whether she will ever walk again.

July 23, 2025 / 14:09 IST
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Ukrainian model Maria Kovalchuk alleges brutal assault by 'rich Russian kids' in Dubai
Ukrainian model Maria Kovalchuk alleges brutal assault by 'rich Russian kids' in Dubai

What began as a glitzy night at a luxury hotel in Dubai turned into a horrifying ordeal for 20-year-old Ukrainian model Maria Kovalchuk – one that left her in a coma, with a shattered spine, broken limbs and emotional scars that may never heal.

In a harrowing account aired earlier this week, Maria opened up publicly for the first time about the violence she endured at the hands of a group of Russian and Ukrainian “rich kids” during what was supposed to be a party at the upscale Five Jumeirah Village hotel.

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According to Maria, what started as a missed flight quickly spiralled into a nightmare. She had travelled to Dubai to shoot content for her OnlyFans account, but after oversleeping and missing a connection to Thailand, she accepted an offer from a 19-year-old man she had met at a karaoke bar. The man said his father could arrange a private jet and invited her to a party in his hotel suite.

Instead of hospitality, Maria says she was met with humiliation and aggression.