Cave mom busted!
Strap: Found barefoot & off-grid, Russian woman hid in Gokarna cave with kids for weeks
Blurb:
Kutina claimed her daughters were never in danger, saying they were happy, well-fed, and busy with art, swimming in waterfalls, sleeping comfortably, and enjoying gas-cooked meals during their time in the jungle.
In a bizarre discovery deep inside Karnataka’s Gokarna a 40-year-old Russian woman named Nina Kutina was found living in a stone cave with her two daughters — isolated from the world for nearly two months.
The police stumbled upon the trio on July 11, during routine patrols in the landslide-prone Ramatirtha hills of Kumta taluk. What they found stunned them — a makeshift dwelling in a cave, lined with photos of deities, draped in a blue plastic tarp, and occupied by a woman and her barefoot children.
“The snakes are our friends. They don’t harm us unless we trouble them,” Kutina reportedly told police when they urged her to come out due to the dangers.
Life in a cave
Kutina, who arrived in India on a business visa in 2016, travelled through Goa and Gokarna before disappearing into the forest in 2018. Her visa expired in 2017, but she remained in India illegally, with a brief trip to Nepal in between.
Police say the family had been living in the cave without candles or electricity, relying on natural light. Groceries were stockpiled during rare visits to the town. Kutina used a mobile phone only occasionally, charging it during supply runs. Her children, aged six and five, were reportedly born during her time in India.
Kutina informed the police that she had previously worked as a Russian language tutor in Goa. During her time in the cave, she claimed to have spent her days meditating by candlelight, caring for her children, painting, singing, and reading books.
Defending her actions, Kutina reportedly told a newswire that they were never in danger and that she had not taken her daughters into the jungle to die. She said the children were happy, swam in a waterfall, had a comfortable place to sleep, and engaged in various art activities such as clay modelling and painting. She also said they ate well, as she cooked tasty meals using gas.
Police videos show the children smiling and wearing colourful Indian attire, appearing relaxed and comfortable.
Father comes around
In a development adding complexity to the case, Israeli national Brar Goldstien has identified himself as the father of the two girls. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said he met Kutina in 2017, and that she denied him access to his daughters from October 2024.
During their relationship, they moved between India and Ukraine. The couple separated a few years ago. Goldstein said he lost all contact with the children after Kutina left Goa with them several months ago.
He said he eventually managed to find them on a beach in Gokarna, but Kutina allegedly refused to let him see the children, citing that he no longer lived with them. He added that she was insistent on raising the children alone.
Goldstien also filed a police complaint in December 2024, accusing Kutina of assault, erratic behaviour, and extracting money under pressure. He also claimed to have cared for one of her sons from a previous relationship — the child reportedly died in an accident in late 2024.
Deportation on the cards
Following the rescue, Kutina and her daughters were moved to an FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) detention centre. Her passport was found in the cave. Officials say she lacked valid documentation to remain in the country, and deportation proceedings have begun.
However, with the children’s custody and paternity issues now entangled in international legalities, and no government stepping in to fund their travel, the process could drag on.
Gokarna, known for its beaches and spiritual retreats, has hosted many offbeat travellers — but even locals admit this case is unlike anything they’ve seen.