Wish to Be Close to My Daughters”: Father of Russian Woman’s Kids Found Living in Karnataka Cave – 7 Shocking Details
Dror Goldstein, an Israeli national, has expressed his desire to share custody of the kids with Nina Kutina, the woman who was found living in a cave
Days after a Russian woman was found living inside a cave with her two daughters in Karnataka’s Gokarna district, the children’s father has come forward, saying he wishes to be close to them.
Dror Goldstein, an Israeli national, has expressed his desire to share custody of the kids with Nina Kutina, the Russian woman who was found living in a cave with her daughters a few days ago.
“My wish is to be close to my two daughters. I demand shared custody. I want to be able to meet them, to be close to them and to be a father. That’s all,” Goldstein told news agency PTI.
It was earlier reported that the Russian woman told authorities that the father of her children is an Israeli businessman, and that she gave birth to one of the daughters when she lived in a cave in Goa.
According to an Indian Express report, Nina met the Israeli citizen a few years ago, the two fell in love and had Preya (6) and Ama (4), their two daughters.
The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) reportedly got in touch with the father, the publication had reported, adding that getting Nina and her children deported to Russia would take about one month.
While her discovery from inside a cave stunned many, Nina Kutina has defended the move, saying her family “loves nature”, and that she has lived in forests of over 20 countries in the past 15 years.
“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 was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
According to a New York Times report, Nina came to India many years ago with her two sons and a daughter. Her eldest son died aged 21, and it is unknown where her other son is.
Her business visa expired in 2017 and she has overstayed ever since, owing to what she describes as “several 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 told PTI.
Nina and her daughters were found residing in a hidden cave in Gokarna on July 11 during a routine inspection by the police.
The Russian woman, who has since been rescued, describes her present life as “uncomfortable”, and says she lived in the cave “peacefully”.
Forest officials and local police were alerted by nearby villagers about sightings of a man living in isolation in a makeshift shelter inside a rocky cave. What followed was a discovery that not only shocked authorities but also unearthed a cross-border emotional saga involving love, estrangement, and the desire for reunion.
The man, a former yoga practitioner and spiritual seeker, was previously in a relationship with a Russian woman who came to India over a decade ago to explore holistic healing and meditation. The couple reportedly lived together for several years and had two daughters, now aged around 10 and 7.
In 2018, the couple separated under unclear circumstances. Following the separation, the man vanished without a trace, abandoning his children and partner. The Russian national, who continued to live in India with her children, raised them single-handedly while pursuing legal avenues to trace the father—without success.
According to local forest officials, the man was discovered in a remote cave, surviving on forest produce, donated food, and occasional supplies left by sympathetic villagers. He had no electronic devices, identification documents, or direct contact with the outside world.
“He had grown a long beard, looked malnourished, and spoke very little at first. But after gaining his trust, he revealed he had once been in a relationship with a Russian woman and had two children with her,” said an officer involved in the rescue operation.
The man reportedly broke down upon being asked about his daughters, saying:
“I just want to be close to my daughters again. I regret leaving them.”
Authorities are currently verifying his statements and working with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and local child protection services to contact the Russian mother and facilitate a possible emotional and legal reunion.
Psychologists and social workers have been brought in to evaluate the mental and emotional condition of the man, as well as the potential impact on the children. A medical evaluation has been conducted to ensure he is physically stable.
The incident has triggered widespread social media reactions, with many expressing sympathy, curiosity, and even admiration for the man’s hermit-like lifestyle. Some, however, criticized his abandonment of family responsibilities, calling for accountability.
“This is a story of heartbreak and hope. The man chose solitude but now seeks redemption. Let’s hope the children get closure,” tweeted one user.
Read Also : SBI Shares Surge Over 4% Amid ₹10,000 Cr QIP Fundraising Buzz – 5 Key Market Insights You Must Know
