MODELS from Ukraine’s notorious “Butt Squad” – who were jailed for a racy photo shoot in Dubai – posed in Kyiv to support their country ahead of tonight’s Euro 2020 game against England.
Their cheeky balcony snap on a skyscraper caused outrage when it went viral in April – but now four of the women used blue and yellow Ukrainian flags as props to back their team.
Yana Graboshchuk, 27, a trained lawyer, said: “Our team is our pride, I believe in victory. We will watch and support Ukraine.”
Fellow Butt Squad member Diana added: “Only forward, only victory.”
They posed overlooking the River Dnipro and People’s Friendship Arch in Kyiv ahead of the Euro 2020 quarter final tie.
England play Ukraine tonight in Rome as the two sides duke it out for a spot in the semis – just one step away from final glory at Wembley.
The four were part of a group that flew to Dubai with playboy Vitaliy Grechin, 41, based in Kyiv, in April.
After a scandalous naked shoot on a balcony, 13 of the female participants were held in a “hell” jail in Dubai as was Grechin.
They were accused of public indecency but eventually released and ordered to leave the United Arab Emirates.
Grechin, who holds a US passport, was previously pictured with a string of famous names including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, George Clooney, and Sylvester Stallone.
The women were accused of offending public decency, and have been banned from Gulf countries for at least five years.
Photographer Alexander Ten flew out to Russia before Dubai police started rounding up the participants.
Butt Squad model Evgenia Taran told of their hellish experience as they held by the authorities for two weeks.
She said: “The light was on 24/7 and there was endless knocking air conditioning,” she said.
“The lack of toilet paper, spoons, and human attitude from employees goes without saying.
“But the most terrible thing is ignorance, because your questions are not answered, and they allow you to contact the world according to their mood, and for money.”
The model added: “The only thing that saved me there were the books I somehow managed to beg for.”
Playboy businessman Grechin is known as somewhat of a man of mystery – and being stocky and unshaven is not everyone’s idea of a playboy.
But he was pictured playing piano surrounded by the naked models – and boasts he slept with two of the girls.
He has deep pockets, picking up the tab for the $13,500 (£9,700) all-expenses-paid trip.
The businessman told The Sun: “I live the way 90 per cent of heterosexual males on this planet would like to live but don’t. And I don’t want to apologise for it.”
His Facebook page is plastered with pictures of him in exotic locations with glamorous young women.
He was held for 20 days over the stint before then contracting Covid while behind bars, ending up in a quarantine.
Saddled with a six-figure legal bill to sort out the mess, speaking from an isolation facility he said: “It’s not a prison but I can’t leave the room and everything I do is monitored.”
Vitaliy insisted his Butt Squad are just “friends” and not involved in prostitution — nor was the balcony pose a publicity stunt or promotion of any sort.
The dad-of-two said: “What the girls did is wrong, based on the laws of Dubai.
“But we are talking about a bunch of very young, excited, open-minded, regular girls who have nothing to do with escorting, modelling or anything else.
“In Dubai, everything is on camera. If we had other guys coming over, if these girls were prostituting, it would all show up.”
He admits sleeping with two of the Butt Squad, explaining: “I’ve had sexual relations with two of these girls. And not at the same time. We’re normal people.”
Several Russian models escaped from Dubai before police rounded up the participants.
And a Russian IT company boss Alexey Kontsov, 33, who allegedly posted pictures of the stunt was also taken into custody.
Speaking to Russian news outlet Life, Ten admitted he shot the balcony pics – but blamed Grechin for the scandal.
“I do not know that I am wanted in Dubai. I did not offer anything. I am an ordinary photographer. This was a special shoot for Vitaliy Grechin and his needs,” he said.
“I was told to arrive at the appointed time and place and take pictures of the girls, so I arrived. I was personally hired by Grechin.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
