Russian Mother and Children Return Home After Cave Rescue in India

Sat Oct 11 2025 06:21:34 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Nina Kutina and her daughters, who lived in a cave in Karnataka, India, for weeks, have returned to Russia following a court order and intervention from the Russian embassy.

Nina Kutina, a Russian mother, and her two young daughters have returned to Russia after being rescued from a cave where they lived in Karnataka, India. Following a court order, the Russian embassy facilitated their return after they received medical care and legal support. The case has drawn attention due to ongoing custody claims from the children's alleged father.

A Russian woman who made global headlines after being found living in a cave in India with her two young daughters has flown back to her country, an official told the BBC.

Nina Kutina, 40, and her daughters - aged six and five - were rescued on 9 July by policemen on a routine patrol in a forest in the southern state of Karnataka.

The woman, who did not have valid documents to stay in India, had been sent to a foreigners' detention centre along with her daughters.

Last week, the Karnataka high court asked the federal government to issue documents to Ms Kutina and her daughters to return home.

They left for Russia on 28 September, an official at the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO) confirmed. Ms. Kutina's minor son from another relationship, who was later found living in Goa state, also went with them.

The high court had been hearing a petition filed by Dror Shlomo Goldstein, an Israeli businessman living in Goa, who claimed to be the father of the two minor girls. He had requested the court to stop the children from being sent back to Russia and sought their custody.

Mr. Goldstein's position remains unclear, as he has not yet commented on the court order. He retains the option to appeal, but uncertainty lies over whether such a decision could reverse the return of the children to Russia.

While earlier telling media he had been supporting Ms. Kutina and the children, Mr. Goldstein had also expressed concern over Ms. Kutina's departure with the children without informing him, leading him to file a police complaint.

In court proceedings, it was emphasized that the conditions under which Ms. Kutina and the children lived in the cave were not adequately explained, raising questions about their circumstances before the authorities acted.

The police patrol discovered the cave after observing brightly colored clothes hung nearby. Entrance to the cave was curtained off with saris. Inside, they found Ms. Kutina and her daughters living in sparse conditions, with only basic provisions.

Despite the police's efforts to explain the dangers of their living situation, Ms. Kutina maintained that she preferred the company of wildlife over humans, asserting, 'Animals and snakes are our friends.'

The case exemplifies complex issues surrounding child welfare, international custody disputes, and the rights of individuals seeking refuge in foreign nations.