VIDEO: Russian woman and her daughters found living in a remote cave in India

A Russian woman and her two young daughters were discovered living in a secluded cave on the Ramateertha Hills in Gokarna, located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. The discovery was made by local police during routine patrols in the area, as reported by The Indian Express.

The woman, identified as 40-year-old Nina Kutina—also known as Mohi—was found with her daughters, aged six and four, inside a cave partially shielded with plastic sheets and adorned with images of deities. Officers came across the site while inspecting the region for adventure tourists and trekkers.

Sub-Inspector Sridhar S R of the Gokarna police said they noticed footprints leading to the cave and approached it cautiously. One child was seen playing nearby while Kutina rested with her younger daughter. To persuade the family to leave the cave, police cited warnings of potential landslides. However, Kutina reportedly responded calmly, saying they had no fear of dangers such as snakes, which she referred to as their “friends.”

According to the police, Kutina and her children had been living in the cave for the past two months. Russian-language books, groceries, and minimal belongings were found at the site. Despite the onset of the monsoon, the family continued to live with minimal clothing and rarely used artificial light, relying mostly on daylight and candles.

Kutina first arrived in India in 2016 on a business visa and developed a strong interest in the tourism and hospitality sectors in Goa and Gokarna. Her visa expired in 2017, and although she received an exit permit in 2018 and briefly traveled to Nepal, she returned and began living in the coastal forests of Karnataka. Both her children were reportedly born in India during this period of undocumented living.

Kutina avoided staying in hotels out of fear of being traced, instead devoting her time to meditation and prayer in forested areas. She occasionally visited nearby towns to purchase supplies and charge her mobile phone, which she used sparingly.

Sub-Inspector Sridhar described the family as appearing “healthy and mentally sound,” but admitted that the case was unlike anything he had encountered. Authorities are currently investigating whether Kutina received medical assistance during childbirth and how she managed to survive in such isolated conditions for so long.

In a message sent in Russian, Kutina expressed grief over being removed from the natural environment. “Our cave life is over. Our cozy, comfortable home was broken. And we were placed in a prison without sky, without grass, without a waterfall, with an icy hard floor on which we now sleep to ‘protect us from rain and snakes’,” she wrote, referring to her current accommodation under police supervision.

Officials are now coordinating with immigration authorities regarding the next steps, which may include deportation.