Russian Woman Found Living in Indian Cave With Children Sparks Questions and Deportation Order

In a remote forest near the famed beaches of Goa, Indian police stumbled upon a scene that has left officials and the public equally intrigued and concerned: A Russian woman, 40-year-old Nina Kutina, and her two young daughters, aged six and five, living in a damp cave nestled in the lush, snake-infested Ramteertha hills of Karnataka.

The discovery was made on 9 July during a routine police patrol introduced last year to ensure tourist safety. According to Uttara Kannada district superintendent M Narayana, bright clothes hanging outside a makeshift curtain of saris caught the attention of officers. When they investigated further, they were met by a blonde-haired child dashing from the cave entrance, followed closely by her sister and mother.

Living Off the Grid, in a Cave

'The woman and her children appeared quite comfortable in the place,' Narayana said. 'It took us some time to convince her that it was dangerous to live there.'

Police footage showed a spartan existence — plastic mats, a few grocery packets, some clothing, and a leaking ceiling. Kutina, however, defended her lifestyle, telling ANI: 'Animals and snakes are our friends. Humans are dangerous.'

She insisted that she and her daughters were healthy and happy living close to nature. 'We were not dying, and I did not bring my daughters to die in jungle,' she said. 'They were very happy. They swam in the waterfall, slept peacefully, made art from clay, and ate good, tasty food.'

Spiritual Search or Something Else?

While early reports suggested Kutina had chosen the jungle life for spiritual reasons — an idol of Hindu god Panduranga Vittala was found in the cave — she downplayed the religious angle in interviews. 'It is not about spiritually,' she clarified. 'We just like nature because it gives us health... big health. It's not like you live in a home.'

Kutina revealed she had travelled extensively over the last 15 years, including stays in Costa Rica, Thailand, Bali and Nepal. She claimed her second-youngest daughter was born in a cave in Goa, where they had lived previously.

A Complicated Family Story

Authorities have confirmed that Kutina and her daughters lack valid documentation to remain in India. They have since been placed in a foreigner detention centre near Bengaluru and face deportation once consular formalities are complete.

Officials have also contacted the Russian embassy and reached out to the girls' father, Israeli businessman Dror Goldstein, currently in India. Goldstein told NDTV that Kutina had left Goa with the children without his knowledge. He filed a missing person's complaint and now seeks joint custody, stating: 'I will do everything to prevent the government from sending them to Russia.'

Adding to the tragic background, Kutina disclosed that her eldest son had died in a road accident in Goa last year. An 11-year-old son, currently in Russia, remains in touch with authorities through the consulate.

Unanswered Questions and Lingering Curiosity

Though Kutina claims they only lived in the Karnataka cave for a week, police have not confirmed the exact timeline of her journey. Local shopkeepers said she bought groceries recently, but where she and the girls stayed prior to their discovery is still unclear.

Kutina asserted that she 'has big experience to stay in natural, in jungle,' adding that : 'this cave was very big and beautiful. Very close to village — we could buy food.'

Her comments about the detention centre were less charitable: 'It is like jail.'

As Indian officials work to finalise her deportation, Kutina's story continues to spark global curiosity. Was it a flight from society, a quest for healing after personal tragedy, or an act of maternal defiance against conventional norms? For now, her motives remain as shrouded as the forest where she chose to live.