A fascinating and somewhat puzzling incident has surfaced from the lush, rough landscape of Karnataka, India, where law enforcement officers recently found a Russian woman, Nina Kutina, along with her two young daughters residing in a secluded cavern. This find has initiated a discreet inquiry to understand the factors that drove this family to adopt such an unusual lifestyle in the wilds near the well-known tourist spot of Goa. The account is developing with a mix of interest and unease, as officials work to reconstruct their path and intentions.
The family’s presence was discovered during a standard police patrol around the Ramteertha hills, in the Gokarna forest. Officers, who regularly monitor the area to ensure tourist safety due to risks like landslides and the presence of wildlife, were taken aback to find colorful clothing drying near an isolated rock structure. Upon investigating further, they found a cave with its entrance subtly covered by colorful saris. As they got closer, a little blonde girl appeared and brought the officers to her mother, Nina Kutina, and her other child inside the shelter.
Within the cavern, law enforcement found a minimal yet apparently effective habitation setup. They noted plastic mats, some pieces of clothing, and various packs of instant noodles with other essential groceries as their limited belongings. Even though the condition was moist and their environment very basic, footage filmed by the authorities reveals the kids in vibrant Indian clothes, looking pleased and even posing happily for the camera. The image provided a notable contrast to the expected threats of the woodland area, recognized for its snakes and wildlife. Official reports mentioned that the mother and her children appeared surprisingly comfortable in their unconventional dwelling.
Persuading Nina Kutina to exit the cave turned out to be a sensitive task. Upon being told about the dangers posed by the forest’s creatures, her reply was unexpectedly insightful: “Animals and snakes are our friends. The real threat comes from humans.” This remark revealed her distinctive perspective and her obvious ease in the natural world compared to human society. After eventually leaving the cave, Ms. Kutina and her daughters, aged six and five, received medical check-ups, which verified that they were in good health.
The core of the mystery now revolves around Nina Kutina herself. Officials from India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) have confirmed her Russian nationality and stated that preparations are underway for her repatriation, a process that involves coordination with the Russian consulate in Chennai. In interviews given to Indian news agencies, Ms. Kutina revealed that she had not resided in Russia for 15 years, having traveled extensively to numerous countries including Costa Rica, Malaysia, Bali, Thailand, Nepal, and Ukraine.
Her personal story, as recounted in these interviews, also includes a tragic detail: she is a mother of four, with children ranging from twenty down to five years old. She shared the heartbreaking news of her eldest son’s death in a road accident in Goa the previous year. Officials have also noted that her second son, aged eleven, is currently in Russia, information they have shared with the consulate.
Adding another dimension to this complex story, the FRRO has recently identified the father of the two girls discovered in the cave as Dror Goldstein, an Israeli entrepreneur who is presently in India. Mr. Goldstein mentioned that he reported a missing person case when Ms. Kutina departed from Goa without notifying him. He has also shown interest in shared custody of their children and intends to stop their deportation to Russia, stressing his dedication to their welfare. This incident adds both a personal and legal aspect to the evolving circumstances, underscoring the intricacies of family connections across different countries.
The precise timeline of when Nina Kutina reached the forest of Karnataka and how long she stayed in the cave is not entirely clear. She told the authorities that she and her daughters had been living in the cave for seven days, after previously inhabiting a different cave in Goa, where she stated one of her daughters was born. She also mentioned buying food items, like instant noodles, from a nearby shop a week before they were found.
Her extensive travel record both within India and abroad is equally intricate. Although she claimed her passport was missing, an expired one discovered with her possessions indicated she entered India with a business visa active from October 2016 to April 2017. She remained in the country beyond the visa’s expiration, was detained a year later, and received an «exit permit» from the Goa FRRO. Immigration stamps reveal she traveled to Nepal in April 2018 and left three months afterward. It is unclear where she journeyed subsequently, although she mentioned having visited at least four other countries since her departure from India in 2018. She professes that she returned to India, possibly in February 2020, due to her strong fondness for the nation. Her current visa had expired several months before she was found, a situation she blamed on her mourning over her son’s passing.
The motivation behind her choice of dwelling has also been a subject of speculation. An idol of Panduranga Vittala, a form of the Hindu deity Krishna, was found in her cave, initially leading to reports that her presence was rooted in spiritual or meditative practices. However, Ms. Kutina has directly refuted this, stating, «It is not about spirituality. We just like nature because it gives us health… it’s very big health, it’s not like you live in a home.» She emphasized her extensive experience living in natural environments, even in jungles, and insisted that her daughters were happy and thriving there. She described their cave as «very big and beautiful,» conveniently located near a village for acquiring necessities.
She passionately defended her decision, asserting that her children were not in danger and were, in fact, flourishing. She recounted their activities: swimming in a nearby waterfall, engaging in art lessons, making clay creations, painting, and enjoying the good, tasty food she cooked. She also downplayed concerns about snakes, likening their presence in the forest to finding them in conventional homes. Her insistence on the health benefits and inherent joy derived from living in nature provides a clear window into her philosophical outlook, suggesting a deliberate and conscious choice rather than a desperate situation.
El caso de Nina Kutina y sus hijas se ha convertido en un punto central para los debates sobre estilos de vida alternativos, la autonomía personal y el papel de las autoridades en la gestión de situaciones tan singulares. Esto resalta las complicaciones de los marcos culturales y legales cuando las personas eligen deliberadamente vivir al margen de las normas sociales.
The authorities face the challenge of balancing the children’s well-being, the mother’s decisions, and the enforcement of immigration rules. As this story quietly unfolds, it captivates by showcasing the varied ways people search for purpose and joy in an ever more conventional society. The family’s future is still unclear, yet their extraordinary venture into the Indian wilderness has undoubtedly made a lasting impact on those who met them.
