“Dubai Trap” by Yana Yard: how a Ukrainian realtor promises a “house of the future” but builds only a pit

Dubai has long transformed unbearable heat and endless sands into multi-billion-dollar capital—here, square meters of housing are sold even before they exist, at least at the foundation level. In this market of over-priced promises, a Ukrainian real estate agency, “The Yard,” better known as “Ya Yard,” actively operates. This is the project of Yana Rudkovska—a figure well known to Kyiv’s elite real estate market. However, in Ukraine her activities are effectively paralyzed today: several criminal proceedings have been opened against entities within her orbit.

More details are in the Stop Corruption TV story.

Beating, fraud, and disappearance with money.

According to information available to the authors of the investigation, three criminal proceedings have been registered with law enforcement agencies regarding offenses allegedly committed by employees of a company within Rudkovska’s orbit. Victims cited by the media Rozsliduvach.info say that a Kyiv-based businesswoman allegedly launched a large-scale fraud scheme that cost people not only money but also health.

It concerns a real estate deal in the city center—the parties signed a contract, Rudkovska received a deposit, after which, according to victims, she disappeared with the funds. The defrauded entrepreneur turned to the police. After that, he allegedly was promised another premises as compensation—but instead he was attacked.

Among the victims is businessman Anton Shukhnin, owner of the Domino brand. He says he sustained a severe injury—a fracture of the bones of the left side of the face—and there was a real threat to lose an eye.

“The scariest thing was that there was a threat to lose an eye,” Shukhnin said. He adds that the situation was saved only thanks to highly skilled doctors: “What saved me was that I got into very competent doctors and professors who did practically the impossible.”

Criminal cases have been opened for fraud and causing grievous bodily harm. However, as the authors of Stop Corruption TV claim, Rudkovska has almost two years of successfully avoiding justice—she simply does not return to Ukraine and ignores investigative actions.

The businesswoman herself, commenting on her presence in Dubai, publicly demonstrates confidence in her success. In one of the videos she describes her location with the words: “Ohh, it smells of big money. Wherever I am, there are millions” (translated from Russian by editors). At the time of publication, the video had been deleted.

“House of the Future” on a vacant excavation pit.

While investigations are ongoing in Ukraine, in Dubai Rudkovska presented a new project—a complex named Oak Yard, positioned as a “house of the future.” It is here that funds from investors around the world are actively being attracted.

The authors remind that this is already the second major investigation into Yana Rudkovska, the Yard agency, and their activities in the UAE. Yet, according to them, new facts turned out to be even more sensational—the agency allegedly aggressively and rapidly sells apartments to trusting investors, even though the object, according to journalists, cannot be completed within the stated timelines—by the end of the current year.

During a foreign business trip, the Stop Corruption TV team personally inspected the future complex. Instead of a finished or at least partially raised building, there was an empty pit on the site.

Meanwhile, in Oak Yard promotional materials to investors, the project promises maximum convenience and flexible payment. In the promotional English-language video about the project, it is stated that physical presence in Dubai is not required to invest: “And you don’t need to be in Dubai.” The video also mentions various payment methods: “Payments are made by bank transfer, cash, or even cryptocurrency.”

Is the money going to the wrong place?

After the release of the previous investigation, the Oak Yard project drew attention from Ukrainian media, and new scandalous details began to surface. According to available information, investors’ funds may be collected into accounts of related firms—though such deals typically should flow exclusively into a government-backed escrow account that guarantees investor funds until construction is completed.

Against the backdrop of these financial schemes, the first, still anonymous, complaints from investors began to appear. In one social media post cited by the authors, dissatisfied clients complained: they already paid the first installment, and now they are being asked for a second—while construction has not moved at all.

According to the authors of the investigation, Rudkovska responds to the accusations harshly, insisting she became a victim of “black PR” and an “information attack.” Yet, the more she defends herself, the more questions arise for potential investors: why is there no single developer name in the project? Why are the completion dates constantly shifting year after year? Why are new payments demanded from investors when construction basically does not progress? And finally—what guarantee is there that their money will not dissolve in offshore structures?

In one of the videos, Rudkovska herself, addressing potential clients directly, states the need for new investors: “I need to find investors. If needed, we’ll agree, right?” (translated from Russian by editors).

Russian trace in the “Ukrainian” project.

One of the key elements of the investigation was the internal client base of Dubai-based The Yard agency, which ended up in the Stop Corruption TV editorial office. Journalists found a large number of Russian citizens there—and could not pass by this fact, because it turns out that Ukrainian realtors, despite working abroad, continue to work with Russian clients.

The authors of the material warn: the mere appearance of a surname in the database is not proof of a concluded agreement. However, they have a real invoice issued to one of the figures in the list, which prompted closer scrutiny of Russian clients of the agency.

Among them, journalists name:

a Rostov-based lawyer Yuri Yakimenko;

a blogger Alexandra Milovanova, who runs a blog about Saint Petersburg;

Lilia Safiullina, who recently attended a Basta concert in Kazan—its authors of the investigation call her a “traitor”;

Yelena Dogadkina—an assistant to a deputy of the Samara Regional Duma from the United Russia party.

Journalists of Stop Corruption TV emphasize: despite this, the Oak Yard project positions itself, among other things, as Ukrainian, and continues to actively promote its services among Ukrainian citizens. In one promotional video, the project is presented as a domestic developer: “Well, guys? Another powerful Yard. Our Ukrainian developer.”

Victims of Rudkovska’s actions in Ukraine demand that she be declared internationally wanted as soon as possible to prevent new victims. Currently, according to the authors’ information, the businesswoman leads a wealthy life in the United Arab Emirates.

The authors of Stop Corruption TV note that legal problems for Rudkovska could arise not only in Ukraine. According to them, requests regarding possible criminal offenses by Yana Yard have already been sent to the police and Public Prosecutor’s Office of the United Arab Emirates. Journalists say they will closely monitor the reaction of foreign institutions and await an official legal assessment of the activities of The Yard agency.

Also read: a ring for 700 thousand euros and a dissertation from 190 “borrowed” pages: the wealth and career of the pro-rector Kostyra.