Vyacheslav Trahov
Two of the several women who were filmed by a Russian tourist during his recent visit to Ghana have publicly denied allegations that they had sexual relations with him.
The women, identified as Dorah and Serena, reacting in separate interviews with content creator Naana Donkor Arthur stated that the footage shared online had been edited to create a false impression.
The Russian man, identified as Yaytseslav, began trending in Ghana and other parts of Africa after videos of his interactions with several African women surfaced online on 12 February 2026.
In Ghana, many of the clips showed him around the Accra Mall, where he was seen approaching and engaging female shoppers and acquaintances during public outings, and later with some of the women at his apartment.
He reportedly recorded their conversations and private encounters using Meta glasses without their consent before sharing the content online.
Dorah denied ever visiting the man’s apartment. She said the Russian repeatedly followed her and her friend, requesting their phone numbers.
“He kept following us and was demanding our numbers, and I didn’t want him to continue following us, so I decided to give him my Ghana number. I was travelling abroad, where I’m based, and when he called, he wouldn’t be able to reach me,” she explained.
According to Dorah, the video was edited in a way that made it appear as though they willingly followed him.
“If you watch the video carefully, you will realise he was the one following us. But he fast-forwarded parts so people would not notice. We did not go to his apartment. He never asked us to follow him anywhere,” she said, adding that although her face appeared briefly in one of the clips, the context had been distorted.
Serena, a real estate agent, also denied having any sexual relationship with the Russian tourist. She explained that she met him at the Accra Mall while waiting for her boss so they could begin scouting properties.
According to her, the man expressed interest in renting a more affordable apartment, saying his current accommodation was too expensive. Seeing a business opportunity, she gave him her contact details.
“I never had sex with him. I can swear on my life,” Serena stated in her interview with Naana Donkor Arthur. “He approached me at the mall and asked if I worked there. I told him I’m a real estate agent. He said he had just arrived in the country and needed an apartment.”
She alleged that the video circulating online cut out key portions of their initial business discussion, creating a misleading narrative.
Serena said she later went to his apartment strictly for professional reasons after informing her boss, who was aware of the meeting. However, she claimed that once there, the man made advances towards her, which she rejected.
“I told him that was not what I was there for. He called me for an apartment discussion. If he wanted other ladies, I could even help him find someone because I am married,” she said.
She added that she asked him to pay for her transport fare when leaving, describing it as standard practice after such meetings. She stressed that no sexual activity took place.
Serena said she felt shocked and embarrassed when the video went viral, maintaining that the encounter was misrepresented.
The controversy has reportedly affected her marriage, as her husband is now considering divorce due to the public attention surrounding the incident.
By Francis Addo