22.10.2025 18:10
The report, which began with the sighting of a blonde-haired child in the forest in the town of Gokarna, India, revealed that Russian citizen Nina Kutina had been living in a cave furnished with handmade items for 8 years with her two young daughters.
Near the tourist town of Gokarna in Karnataka, India, a report of a barefoot child with blonde hair seen in the forest led to an extraordinary discovery in the area. In the investigation conducted in the region, known for its temples, yoga centers, and sacred sites, the police determined that Russian citizen Nina Kutina had lived in a cave with her two daughters, aged five and six, for eight years.
EIGHT YEARS SPENT IN A CAVE
The police teams found that Kutina had organized the cave with boards, mats, and handmade items. The 40-year-old Kutina stated in an interview with the BBC, "We had never lived in a cave before, but we love nature. This was a new experience for us." The woman expressed that during their time living in the forest, they obtained their fruits and basic food supplies from Gokarna, followed a vegetarian diet, and that her children had never fallen ill because of it. Kutina's son Luchezar was staying with a friend in Arambol, a few hours away, and was attending school there at that time.
HEARTBREAKING REASON: A LOST CHILD
The Russian mother explained that the main reason for their life in the cave was mourning her eldest son Dmitriy, who she lost in a car accident in September 2024. The police warned Kutina about the dangers of living in the forest with children, even though they appeared to be comfortable in the cave. The area posed risks from wild animals, snakes, and landslides during the monsoon season.
"WE WERE AFRAID OF PEOPLE, NOT ANIMALS"
Kutina wrote on her Telegram channel called 'Cave Life', "No snake harmed us, no animal attacked. We were afraid of people for years." However, the police discovered that Kutina's visa had expired and sent the family to an immigration center. Kutina stated that she could not find the strength to renew her documents after her eldest son's death.
THE JOURNEY FROM RUSSIA TO INDIA
Born in St. Petersburg, Kutina studied in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, before working as an interior designer in Moscow. However, she left Russia 15 years ago with her son Dmitriy. Kutina, who said, "I didn't want to live among concrete buildings," expressed, "I wanted my children to run in the sand, to know the sea and nature." Kutina, who gave birth to three more children abroad, stated that she delivered all of them at home without medical assistance. Preferring to live close to nature, she even taught her children art and sculpture lessons while at the immigration center.
"WE WERE NEIGHBORS WITH SNAKES"
Vasiliy Kondraşov, who knows Kutina, said that she had also lived in the Goan forest with her son ten years ago: "She had made a two-room shelter among the roots of tropical trees. She decorated the surroundings with clay and fabric. When I asked her, 'Aren't you afraid of snakes?' she said, 'Two snakes live here, we know each other.'
RETURN TO RUSSIA FROM THE IMMIGRATION CENTER
Kutina was held with her daughters at the immigration center near Bangalore, while her son stayed at a nearby shelter. The woman described the conditions of the center as "much worse than in the cave"; she claimed that her belongings were stolen and that the ashes of her deceased son were confiscated. Indian authorities stated that the allegations were being investigated but noted that some were exaggerated. Kutina's departure from the country was delayed due to a lawsuit filed by her children's father, Israeli businessman Dror Shlomo Goldstein, who opposed the girls being sent to Russia and requested that they be kept under supervision.
Kutina eventually returned to Russia with her children and settled with relatives in Moscow. The woman, who does not plan to send her children to school, intends to provide home education. Kutina, who said, "After I complete my documents, I want to explore new places," described cave life as "an unforgettable experience of nature and humanity."