20-year-old Ukrainian model Maria Kovalchuk, who was found on the side of a road in Dubai with serious injuries in March, is continuing her treatment and has begun to speak for the first time in a long time, her mother said in comments to reporters.
Maria is still in a medical facility in the UAE, where she is undergoing rehabilitation after eight complex surgeries, including multiple fractures of her limbs and spine. According to her mother, her daughter is still unable to walk on her own, but communication with her has become possible.
"Masha has already started talking, but she still can't tell in detail what happened to her," the woman said.
The mother also stated that she has information about the individuals involved in the beating and has already provided their names to UAE law enforcement agencies. According to her, the suspects have been added to the case, which is pending with the prosecutor's office.
History of disappearance
Maria Kovalchuk went to the United Arab Emirates in December 2024 — under a contract as a model. In March 2025, the girl's friend reported her missing — Maria stopped contacting her. The search lasted 10 days.
The girl was found unconscious on the side of a road in Dubai, without documents or a mobile phone. Her condition was critical: multiple fractures, severe injuries, complete loss of memory and speech.
Maria Kovalchuk's story has received widespread attention not only in Ukraine but also abroad. Calls for a thorough international investigation, support for the victim, and punishment of the perpetrators are spreading on social media and in the media.
Amidst the loud discussions and statements from the family, pressure on the investigation in the UAE is increasing, and society awaits the official results of the investigation.
Maria is not the only Ukrainian woman who has been injured abroad during modeling trips, and this case could be a turning point in changing the approach to protecting our citizens abroad.
