In a case that has exposed the darker intersections of social media, sex tourism, and digital privacy, a 36-year-old Russian man has found himself at the center of an international firestorm.
Vladislav Lyulkov, operating under the alias Yaytseslav, stands accused of approaching women in public spaces across Kenya and Ghana, luring them into encounters, and covertly recording intimate moments with hidden cameras before distributing the footage online for entertainment and profit.
As viral clips continue to circulate and authorities in both nations launch urgent probes, the affair has ignited passionate debates about consent, exploitation, and the responsibilities of foreign content creators in Africa.
The Man Behind the Allegations
Vladislav Lyulkov hails from Ulyanovsk in Russia’s Ulyanovsk Oblast. A self-described professional seducer and pick-up artist, he has built an online empire selling pickup courses while maintaining substantial followings — roughly 37,000 on Telegram and 31,000 on YouTube.
With no apparent conventional employment, his livelihood revolves around vlogging his alleged conquests and monetizing exclusive content.
He primarily uses the handle Yaytseslav, occasionally appearing as the seemingly fabricated Vyacheslav Trahov.
The scandal exploded into public view in early to mid-February 2026 when dozens of his videos surged across Kenyan and Ghanaian social media.
In them, Lyulkov is seen initiating conversations with women in everyday settings, only for the footage to later reveal secretly recorded private encounters — material he allegedly uploaded in teaser form on open platforms and in full, explicit versions on paid subscription channels.
The Kenya Chapter: Public Approaches, Private Violations
During his time in Kenya, focused largely on Nairobi with possible side trips to Mombasa, Lyulkov reportedly frequented bustling malls, supermarkets, streets, and walkways.
Using compliments and casual, accented English, he quickly obtained contact information or same-day invitations to his short-stay apartment, hotel, or Airbnb.
Many women accepted, leading to encounters that, according to widespread reports, he captured without their knowledge or consent.
Kenyan authorities have responded with unmistakable gravity. The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services branded the alleged acts “serious technology-facilitated gender-based violence” and a profound assault on privacy and dignity.
Police, investigators, and prosecutors have been directed to treat the matter with urgency, including potential international cooperation.
Under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018, sharing intimate images without consent can carry up to two years in prison.
By mid-February 2026, Lyulkov had reportedly left the country; he has not been arrested, yet investigations continue amid sustained public pressure.
Public reaction in Kenya remains sharply divided. Prominent figures such as comedian Terence Creative and MCA Robert Alai have demanded swift justice, decrying the breach of trust.
Yet alongside the outrage, some voices have criticized the women for meeting a stranger so readily, labeling them “cheap” or “naïve.”
Such commentary, while reflecting genuine concerns about personal safety, risks shifting focus from the core issue: informed consent.
No woman approached in a supermarket or mall anticipates being turned into unpaid content for a foreign vlogger’s paid channel.
Ghana: A Month-Long “Sex Trip” and Cross-Border Ripples
Ghana proved an even more intensive stop. Russian sources have described Lyulkov’s roughly month-long stay — centered in Accra — as a “sex trip,” during which he allegedly logged around 40 separate approaches and encounters.
The pattern mirrored Kenya: public flirtations captured on camera, followed by private meetings secretly recorded and monetized.
Ghanaian officials have moved decisively. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, together with Technology Minister Sam George, confirmed active investigations and confirmed Lyulkov had likely departed. Plans are underway to request extradition from Russia through Interpol, with prosecution in absentia on the table if necessary. Penalties under the Cybersecurity Act of 2020 for non-consensual intimate-image sharing can reach 25 years. The Russian Embassy in Accra acknowledged the reports but offered no further assurances of cooperation, while much of the Ghana-related content on Lyulkov’s Telegram channels was reportedly removed or restricted amid the backlash.
Though no large-scale operations inside Nigeria have been documented, Lyulkov interacted with Nigerian women during his Ghana stay.
One widely shared video call captured a Nigerian woman confronting him over transport costs and an alleged unprotected encounter.
These cross-border threads have broadened the scandal’s regional resonance, underscoring how digital content easily transcends borders.
The Technology of Deception
Central to the allegations is Lyulkov’s reliance on discreet recording tools — most prominently camera-equipped sunglasses, widely identified as Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses capable of capturing high-quality video without drawing attention.
Women featured in the clips appear unaware they were being filmed, let alone that the material would be sold.
Shorter, non-explicit segments spread rapidly on TikTok, Instagram, and X, while longer explicit versions remained behind paywalls.
Lyulkov reportedly used his alias and presented himself simply as a traveling blogger to reduce traceability.
Unverified Rumors and Lingering Questions
Sensational claims — including unproven assertions that Lyulkov is HIV-positive or has slept with over 300 women across Africa — have proliferated in clickbait coverage.
Credible reporting, however, speaks of dozens of encounters, with the ~40 in Ghana the most frequently cited figure.
No confirmed health disclosures or linked infections have surfaced. Some Russian outlets have suggested similar behavior occurred domestically for years, though these accounts remain unverified.
Where Things Stand — and What Comes Next
As of February 17, 2026, Lyulkov appears to have returned to Russia, where extradition of citizens is notoriously difficult.
Legal accountability from Kenya or Ghana therefore faces steep obstacles, yet both governments have signaled they will not let the matter fade.
Beyond the immediate case, the scandal has forced uncomfortable but necessary conversations: about consent in the smartphone era, the vulnerabilities women face from opportunistic visitors, the adequacy of existing privacy laws, and the ethics of monetizing intimate encounters under the guise of “content creation.”
Kenyan and Ghanaian officials have urged citizens to stop sharing the videos, warning that further circulation only deepens the harm to victims.
This episode serves as a stark reminder that accessible technology, borderless platforms, and lax accountability can turn personal encounters into public spectacles — often at the expense of the most vulnerable.
Whether Vladislav Lyulkov ultimately faces justice remains uncertain, but the outrage his actions have provoked has already spotlighted a troubling pattern that African nations — and the wider world — can no longer afford to ignore.
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