Russian woman rescued with 2 kids from Karnataka forest says cave life was better than current dirty shelter in city

Time of India

16-07-2025

A 40-year-old Russian woman,
Nina Kutina
, and her two young daughters were rescued from a forest cave near Gokarna in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district on July 11. After nearly two weeks in isolation,
Kutina
said life in the forest was more peaceful and dignified than the current conditions she is facing in a shelter.
Rescued during police patrol
The family was found during a routine patrol by
Gokarna police
on Ramateertha Hill. Inspector Sridhar S R and his team were checking the area for tourist safety when they noticed unusual activity near a cave. On inspection, they found Kutina and her daughters,
Preya
(6) and Ama (4), living there.
Kutina told police she had come to Karnataka for meditation. Inside the cave, an idol of Lord Rama was found, which she said she worshipped daily. The forest area, however, was considered unsafe by authorities due to steep terrain and presence of snakes.
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'We lived in peace with nature'
Speaking to PTI after the rescue, Kutina said they lived in harmony with nature. 'We woke up with the sun, swam in rivers and lived in nature. I cooked on a fire or gas cylinder depending on the season, and got groceries from a nearby village. We painted, sang songs, read books, and lived peacefully,' she said.
Kutina said she delivered all her children without medical help. 'My children were all born in different places. I delivered all of them myself, without hospitals or doctors, because I know how to do it. No one helped me, I did it alone,' she added.
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Complaints about current shelter
Kutina expressed dissatisfaction with the place where she and her daughters have been housed since the rescue. 'We are now kept in an uncomfortable place. It's dirty, there's no privacy, and we get only plain rice to eat. Many of our belongings were taken, including the ashes of my son who passed away nine months ago,' she said.
She also criticised how the media has portrayed her life. 'Everything shown on TV about us is false. I have videos and photos that show how clean and happy our life was before,' she said.
Background and livelihood
Kutina said she has travelled to about 20 countries over the last 15 years. A trained teacher in art and Russian literature, she said she educates her children herself and now plans to homeschool them officially. 'They are very smart, healthy, and talented. Everyone who meets them says so,' she said.
She entered India on a business visa and travelled to Gokarna via Goa. Her income comes from making art, producing music videos, and part-time work like teaching or babysitting. 'If I can't find work, my brother, father, or son helps me. So we always have enough money for what we need,' she said.
Why she didn't return to Russia
When asked about not returning to her home country, Kutina said emotional and legal issues kept her away. 'There have been many complicated reasons. First, there were multiple personal losses, not just the death of my son, but also a few other close people. We were constantly dealing with grief, paperwork, and other problems,' she said.
Despite visiting four other countries recently, she said she returned to India due to a deep personal connection. 'We love India deeply, its environment, its people, everything,' she said.
Kutina is now in touch with the Russian Embassy, which is assisting her and her daughters.