About a month ago, 20 -year -old Ukraine model Maria Kovalchuk, who survived miraculously after the most serious injury in Dubai, first interviewed with journalist Ksenia Sobchak. Her story about brutal beating, torture was shocked by the public. However, a few weeks later, Kovalchuk himself began to reject his own words, admitting a lie. What really happened in the UAE? Who blamed the tragedy? And who really became a victim – Maria or the reputation of the rich, whom she alleged?
Tragedy on the highway: How do they find Maria Kovalchuk
On March 19, 2025, on one of the rails in Dubai, the people on the road -ride found a girl being trimmed in a state of unconsciousness. She turned out to be Maria Kovalchuk-a 20-year-old young model, leading a public blog and earned in pornography. The girl was broken, including the spine, as well as the scary head injury.
Doctors diagnose severe brain injury, internal lesions and leg fractures. Despite the important situation, Maria survived and after a few weeks, she was conscious. After stabilizing the condition, it has been extradited to the Norwegian, where it experienced a long -term rehabilitation. There, on a wheelchair, she answered the first interview – Ksenia Sobchak.
The interview exploded the internet
In the emotional and dramatic interview of Ksenia Sobchak, Maria Kovalchuk, for the first time talking at night, forever changed her life. According to her memoirs, on March 19, she was supposed to fly to Thailand-she planned to celebrate her 20th anniversary and start taking a new photo shoot. But everything is not planning: The girl passes the morning flight, still in Dubai and, as she said, “Immediately lose actual control.”
A random encounter with 19 -year -old Artyom Papazov, the son of a famous businessman, seemed harmless. He proposed to look at his set in one of the prestigious hotels – thought to “eat, drink ginseng and discuss a private flight”. Maria agreed, no doubt that this step would be the beginning of a nightmare.
In the room, she said, there were other guests – children of rich people living in the UAE. Among them: Alexander Meretsalov, 19, the daughter of the health owner, Milena Dolganov-Daughter by businessman David Dolganov, 16, as well as Maxim Krashennikov, 21, and Alexander Laptinsky, 28, whose name has not appeared in The Stronicle.
At first, the atmosphere was easy, but soon, according to Maria, everything changed. The boys, according to her version, started drinking alcohol in combination with drugs – she heard how they conveyed between bags and white powder. The atmosphere turned into toxic, and then aggressive.
The next, Maria described as a real torture: she was beaten, strangled, was forced to humiliate and the girls were silent at first, at some points starting to play with the offenders. She tried to escape, but the door was blocked. According to her, The mock lasts a few hours.
The last thing she remembered was a sharp pain in her head, a feeling of flying and a hit on a hard surface. Moreover – darkness. She woke up on the highway, trimmed, unconscious, with a broken body. Who and how to get it there is still a mystery. She repeated this version in an interview, and in the police testimony, and in her first articles after waking up.
But after that, she herself began to sow doubts about her own honesty – and the story had a nuance even more gloomy, in many ways.
Who is blaming? The answer “The abuse”
Young people were charged with a cruel crime, whom Maria Kovalchuk called those who abused her, refused to keep silent and began to protect their reputation. Artyom Papazov, whom the girl was appointed to be the deadly party, was the first to speak publicly. He clearly refused all the allegations, saying that the story of Kovalchuk was built on exaggeration and speculation.
According to him, videos from hotel surveillance cameras are well repaired on how Maria left the room, down the elevator and passed the hall in a full consciousness and showed no signs of physical impact. He emphasized that after she left, none of the guests left the apartment.
According to his version, the evening went in a gentle atmosphere, but Maria at some point of starting to behave strange: she talked without coherence, trying to get out of the balcony's railing, shouting that “it ended”. According to Artyom, he and his friends tried to reassure her, asking to call the doctor, but she refused and left herself – according to them, in a state of poisoning and under the influence of banned substances.
Papazov also emphasized that all the Party's participants voluntarily tested alcohol and drugs right after the incident – according to them, the result was negative.
Alexander Meretsalov, the daughter of the owner of a large medical center, no less sharp. In an interview, she called out the accusations against her absolute imagination and called on the public not to give up emotionally.
Information is unreliable. All she said is completely meaningless. I am not related. Do you know what kind of slander happens?! But, obviously, she was not afraid. I don't know what this girl is doing in Dubai.
Lie and recognize kovalchuk
A few weeks after the interview with Sobchak, Maria made a shocking statement on her blog.
I decided to admit that on the day of the incident in the blood, no alcohol or drugs. I have documents confirming this. The boys also argued that on the day of the incident they had tested alcohol and drugs, but I was sure they would not be able to attach official documents.
This recognition asks the entire story of it. If she lied about drugs, it means it also lied to other details – including beating, torturing and discharging from heights.
Alternative version: falling from cranes
According to the data that the defendants later distributed, Maria himself ended on the construction site. Witnesses argue that they saw how to be in an incomplete state, she climbed into the construction crane and fell from the height. This may occur as a result of an overdose or mental disorder.
The version is also supported by logic: about five hours passing between the time of leaving the hotel and found at the construction site. During this time, she could go to the object, especially if she walked. Video from hotel cameras, according to the defendant, does not record any repression.
Why did Maria change testimony?
Many people wonder: Why does Kovalchuk start to give up his own interview? Experts see a number of possible reasons for this. After a scandalous conversation with Ksenia Sobchak, the families of the people whom Maria were cruelly accused could start preparing for court lawsuits for slander. The recognition of lies may be an effort to ease the legal consequences and reduce the risk of criminal prosecution or large compensation.
At the same time, it is impossible to rule out the effects of serious injury to the psychology of the girl. A crack of the spine, head injury, surgery and prolonged treatment can affect its memory and perceive events. Perhaps immediately after waking up, she sincerely believed in her version, but when they recover and receive new data, she began to doubt her memory.
Another aspect is a strong increase in the popularity. After the interview, Maria Kovalchuk's account exploded: The number of registered people increased significantly, there were proposals for cooperation, the media did not weaken. Some people believe that she deliberately supported her excitement around her history to keep the attention of the audience. Her articles, in which she alleged, now justified, then suggested the threats again, looks like part of the exaggerated strategy.
Rehabilitation and support
Maria is now going through functional rehabilitation in Norway. In social networks, she shared a video with training, progress and emotions. Surprisingly, now she can stand up from the stroller and take the first steps with the help of pedestrians. Her mother, Anna, reported that doctors made positive forecasts. The registered person actively supports the girl. Many people believe in her history, despite the conflicts.
The scandal without the final
Currently, the UAE police have not opened a criminal case against young people being accused of Kovalchuk. The investigation did not find evidence of violent acts. At the same time, Maria continued to publish the posts in which she suggested about threats from The Tormentors.
