ACCRA, Ghana — For weeks, the videos followed a predictable, unsettling rhythm.
A man, speaking with a thick Russian accent but rarely showing his face, would wander public places such as the Accra Mall.
He would approach young Ghanaian women, all whilst filming their interactions—and eventually their private moments—for a growing audience of digital voyeurs.
In some interactions, he persuaded women he met to exchange phone numbers and, in several instances, to visit him at his apartment.
The man in the video has been identified by many as Yaytseslav.
While the videos may be framed as “vlogging,” many Ghanaians online are calling it a predatory breach of privacy and a disturbing example of the “passport bro” phenomenon gone dark.
The Digital Paper Trail
Yaytseslav’s operation was sophisticated, spanning multiple platforms.
He is alleged to have used body cameras to secretly record the women he encountered. Others allege that he used Meta’s Ray Ban Glasses in his escapades.
While short, curated clips of his “successes” were posted to TikTok and YouTube to lure in viewers, the more explicit and invasive content was reserved for a private Telegram channel.
There, subscribers reportedly paid a monthly fee ($5) to view the full, unedited videos of his encounters with local women.
Although it has not been confirmed if he filmed intimate encounters with these women, one video shows a woman at his residence wrapped in a large towel, further fueling speculation.
The Rise of the ‘Passport Bro’
The controversy surrounding Yaytseslav has sparked discussions about a polarizing subculture known as “Passport Bros.”
This loosely defined online movement consists primarily of men from Western or more developed nations—including the United States, Europe, and Russia—who travel to regions like Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa in search of romantic or sexual relationships.
The movement’s proponents argue they are seeking “traditional values” and more “feminine” partners, claiming that dating cultures in their home countries have become overly transactional or contentious.
To many observers, the “Passport Bro” phenomenon is less about romance and more about the leverage provided by economic disparity.
In his videos, Yaytseslav usually invites women back to the luxury apartment he rents.
Legal and Social Fallout
The Ghana Police Service has not yet released an official statement regarding an arrest, but there have been calls on social media for legal intervention.
Under Ghanaian law, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images—often referred to as “revenge porn” or digital voyeurism—carries significant prison time.
The controversy touches on several sensitive nerves, including Privacy Rights and Digital Ethics.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
