Authorities have issued a huge update in the case of 20-year-old model Maria Kovalchuk - who, earlier this month, was found severely injured on the side of a Dubai road following a mysterious 10-day disappearance.
Maria - who goes by “Mary Lu” on Instagram - vanished on March 9 after telling friends she had been invited to a hotel party.
Before disappearing, she also reportedly told her mother, Anna Kovalchuk, that she was staying with two men who had introduced themselves as modeling agents. She was due to fly to Thailand days later but never boarded the flight — prompting concern among loved ones.
On March 19, Maria was discovered unconscious and bloodied near a road in Dubai with catastrophic injuries, including a broken spine and shattered limbs. Russian news outlets Shot and Life reported that she had allegedly been “dumped” there. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and underwent four life-saving surgeries.
Now, Ukrainian police have reportedly confirmed that they have launched a human trafficking investigation, per PEOPLE.
Earlier this week, Maria's mom provided an update on her daughter's condition.
“She is getting medical treatment and everything will be all right,” her mother Anna posted on social media, after flying from Norway to be with her daughter. But the full picture of what happened remains murky — and deeply disturbing.
Maria reportedly had no phone, no identification, and was unable to speak after being found. “Maria was eventually found in hospital in serious condition. She has no documents, no phone, nothing. She underwent three, now four, operations. And she cannot speak,” Anna wrote.
Dubai Police later issued a statement saying the model sustained her injuries after entering a “restricted construction site” alone and falling "from a height".
They added: “A comprehensive investigation has revealed that she sustained serious injuries after entering a restricted construction site alone and falling from a height.”
The police confirmed her hospitalization and noted, “Dubai Police continue to work closely with the family and relevant authorities to provide all necessary assistance.” They also urged the public and media “to refrain from sharing unverified information and to respect the privacy of the individual and her family during this challenging time.”
Maria’s family, however, has refuted this account, but mom Anna told reporters: “She cannot comment because of the investigation."
Amid mounting skepticism over the official version of events, Ukrainian authorities have now stepped in.
On March 29, the National Police of Ukraine — specifically the main investigation department of the Lviv region, where Maria is from — announced a “pre-trial investigation” into potential human trafficking, according to The Daily Mail. No suspects have been named, and the Consulate of Ukraine in Dubai did not yet respond to the outlet's requests for comment.
Speculation has also intensified over a possible connection to so-called “Porta Potty” parties — disturbing gatherings allegedly involving influencers and wealthy men in the Middle East. These events are rumored to include extreme abuse and degradation.
Lawyer Katya Gordon warned of the dangers, telling The Sun: “The model was found dying on the side of the road in the UAE after a party with Arab sheiks.
"The scandal with the Porta Potty parties has been raging for over a year. There are videos circulating on the internet where sheiks allegedly beat girls, cut their hair and do all sorts of other things to them. Girls, women, and their mothers! Don’t go to such events for money – you could even get killed.”
Maria’s story has sparked international outcry and cast a harsh light on the exploitation risks faced by young models and influencers abroad. While police investigations in both Ukraine and Dubai remain ongoing, many questions about what happened to Maria between March 9 and March 19 remain unanswered.
“There is an assumption that she went to a party,” Anna said. “But the promoter who organised these parties did not see her.
“Maria was eventually found in hospital in serious condition. She has no documents, no phone, nothing. She underwent three, now four, operations. And she cannot speak.”
The model has not posted on social media since February, but well wishes continue to flood her Instagram account. For now, she remains in stable condition as the investigations continue.