21-year-old Ukrainian OnlyFans model Maria Kovalchuk is recovering in a secure location after surviving what her family describes as a brutal assault during an alleged “Porta Potty party” in Dubai, a term used to describe secretive sex parties attended by wealthy men and involving severe exploitation of women.

Kovalchuk disappeared for more than a week after attending a gathering in the United Arab Emirates. She was eventually found unconscious and severely injured on the roadside, with multiple signs of extreme violence. Her mother, Anna, told Ukrainian media that Maria had been “scalped” and underwent at least nine major surgeries, including operations on her legs, spine, and shoulder.

“If you saw the stitches on the head, how the scalp had to be sewn back on,” Anna said through tears on the Ukrainian TV show Hovoryt vsia kraina. “It looked as if it was done with a knife from the centre of the head all the way down to the eye. The hair was not cut in hospital, the nurses confirmed that.”

According to her mother, Maria’s injuries included deep lacerations to the scalp, broken limbs, and spinal trauma. One leg remains without feeling despite surgery. Maria reportedly has no memory of the assault after falling into a coma and remains on crutches, fearful to leave her location in Norway due to ongoing threats.

The Kovalchuk family says authorities in Dubai have yet to provide clear answers. Maria claims all potential CCTV footage from the hotel and nearby areas was erased.

Notably, her medical expenses were reportedly covered by Dubai police, an unusual move that has raised further questions.

Initial reports linked the incident to the infamous “Porta Potty” scene, a disturbing subculture involving the exploitation of young women at secretive parties in wealthy Gulf states. Victims are often lured under false pretenses with promises of modeling or media careers, only to be subjected to degrading acts for cash.

An insider close to the family now claims that Maria was tortured by a group of Russians at the event.

A 19-year-old man, Artyom Papazov, reportedly the son of a Moscow businessman, and another teen, Aleksandra Mertsalova, were questioned by authorities. Both acknowledged attending a three-day party with Maria but denied involvement in her injuries. They were released without charges.

One theory investigated by police suggested Maria jumped from an eight-story construction site nearby. However, a neurosurgeon involved in her case dismissed the claim, stating that the nature of her injuries was more consistent with a violent beating and possibly being struck by a vehicle.

As the investigation stalls, Maria’s mother says she has received threats for speaking out. One message, she claims, read: “We’ll find you even in Norway.”

No suspects have been charged, and official explanations remain limited.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, described the broader issue as “exploitation disguised as glamour or opportunity.”

“Women, in particular, are offered all sorts of opportunities in Dubai,” Stirling said. “But what they don’t realise is that when they get there, they are essentially at the beck and call of whoever has brought them there. They put themselves in such a risky position where they could end up gang raped, drugged, or dead.”

Kovalchuk’s ordeal is the latest in a string of incidents raising alarms about the treatment of women, especially influencers and models, in Gulf nations. Many arrive seeking opportunity, only to find themselves in situations involving coercion, abuse, or worse.