FOLLOW US

A Ukrainian model has claimed she was nearly killed after being thrown from a roof during a so-called “Porta Potty Party” in Dubai, shedding light on an alleged underground network of sex trafficking and exploitation in the region.

Adding to the list of victims is Maria Kovalchuk, a Ukrainian model with more than 7,000 Instagram followers

The Rise of the Porta Potty Party

A new BBC documentary, Death in Dubai: #Dubaiportapotty, has investigated disturbing reports of so-called “porta potty parties” where women—often young models with growing social media followings—are allegedly lured to glamorous gatherings hosted by wealthy men. Behind the façade of luxury, the events are said to involve degrading sexual acts and coercion.

According to reports, these parties are not only a form of exploitation but are suspected to be fronts for a wider sex trafficking network. The men involved allegedly use wealth and luxury as bait, offering expensive gifts, hotel stays, or even private jet travel to draw women into these dangerous situations.

Victims of a Dangerous Scene

The alleged victims include Monic Karungi and Kayla Birungi, two women who fell to their deaths from Dubai high-rises in recent years. Both incidents were officially ruled as suicides, but activists and families have raised concerns about possible foul play during a porta potty party.

Kovalchuk claims her ordeal began in March after missing a flight to Thailand. She accepted an invitation from a young Russian man who promised her luxury travel and introduced her to one of these parties.

Maria Kovalchuk’s Harrowing Experience

In an interview with Russian outlet Ostorozhno, Novosti, Kovalchuk revealed chilling details of her night.

“They started intimidating me, smashing glass. After that, they took my personal belongings, which included my passport,” she said. “One of the girls even put on my things and just left in them… no one heard me.”

She claims she was mocked for refusing to drink, pressured into sexual acts, and physically restrained when she tried to leave. According to her account, she was later beaten and possibly thrown from a height, sustaining severe injuries that left her unable to walk without assistance.

“I think that maybe I was thrown. Or it was a beating. One of two options. Most likely, there was a blow to the head. The next scene I remember is me asking for help from a passing car, which called an ambulance and the police.”

She was found a week later, bloodied and scalped, her family fearing she had been sold into sexual slavery.

Alleged Cover-Up of Porta Potty Party 

Kovalchuk further alleges that CCTV footage from the night was wiped, leaving no official record of what happened. Reports suggest that some of the men involved were briefly detained but released without charges.

The case highlights the murky and dangerous reality behind the glamorous façade of Dubai’s party scene.

A Growing Global Spotlight

The BBC’s documentary, along with its companion podcast, World of Secrets: Death in Dubai, has drawn international attention to these disturbing allegations. The project suggests systemic issues of trafficking, coercion, and cover-ups in one of the world’s wealthiest cities.

“These stories are not isolated,” said one investigator featured in the program. “They reflect a broader pattern of how vulnerable women are lured with promises of luxury and opportunity, only to be exploited.”

Additional Witness Information: Young woman shares shocking details of Dubai 'Porta Potty parties'

The documentary is now available on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC News Africa YouTube channel, with the podcast streaming worldwide.