A Ukrainian model who suffered horrific injuries, including being scalped with a knife, after an attack in Dubai ten months ago has shared a defiant update on her recovery.
A Long Road to Recovery
Maria Kovalchuk, 21, is now walking again after months confined to a wheelchair, undergoing a gruelling rehabilitation process as a war refugee in Trondheim, Norway. The OnlyFans model needed ten major operations after she was discovered in a roadside ditch in a coma in March 2025, one week after she went missing.
Her injuries were catastrophic. She suffered a broken spine and leg, and her hair was shorn and scalp cut with a knife in an assault she says nearly killed her. "At first, I felt literally shattered, like a broken doll, and I could not imagine my future life at all," Maria told her social media followers.
Mystery and Allegations Surround the Attack
The attack sparked fears she had been a victim of a so-called "Porta Potty party", a disturbing trend where affluent hosts lure models and influencers with promises of cash and gifts, only to subject them to degrading and violent acts. However, Maria has since claimed she was tortured over three days by "rich Russian kids" in Dubai, not by "sheikhs" as initially rumoured.
Her mother, Anna, detailed the brutality, stating: "It was done with a knife from the centre of the head all the way down to the eye, and the hair was cut off." She alleged her daughter endured brutal beatings, requiring three operations on each leg, two on her spine, and one on her shoulder blade.
Threats and an Unresolved Case
Despite speaking out, the case remains shrouded in mystery. The individuals accused have denied any abuse, and no one has been brought to justice. A surgeon reportedly insisted Maria's injuries could not have been caused by an accidental fall or self-harm.
The family also alleges they have faced threats for going public. Anna claimed to have received a menacing, disappearing message on her phone which read: "We'll find you even in Norway." Notably, the family revealed that all medical bills for Maria's numerous operations were fully covered by Dubai police.
Maria, who has almost no memory of the ordeal she calls "torture", is now focusing on rebuilding her life. She is teaching make-up and has spoken of a changed perspective. "I started paying more attention to my inner self... I felt the healing power of love," she said, describing herself as "rising from the ashes, learning to live and believe again".
