Arkhangelsk family's life after high-profile child abuse trial
2025 was a true ordeal for Natalia Kulish, whose story shook the entire country. In the summer, she was sentenced to 3.5 years of deferred punishment for violence against her adopted children. The Arkhangelsk resident herself claimed there was no actual physical abuse and that the entire criminal case was built solely on the teenagers« words. Nevertheless, the court sided with them. Natalia is convinced: the children were turned against her by her former friend Victoria. In the new year, we learned what has changed in the life of the large family.
«Everything is fine with us»
The last time we visited Natalia Kulish at home was in July 2025, when she had already been convicted of torturing her adopted son and the child of her former partner. At the time, she feared being stripped of parental rights over her biological children as well.
Natalia Kulish was found guilty of a crime under part 2 of Article 117 of the Russian Criminal Code – torture of several minors with particular cruelty. And under Article 156 – failure by a parent, in this case a guardian, to properly fulfill their duties in raising children with particular cruelty.
Kulish«s lawyer also said that guardianship authorities could take the children from the family. Natalia is no longer worried they might end up in an orphanage.
«At first, guardianship wanted to take them, but the law is completely on my side here and the court decision is on my side—the court gave me the right to raise the children. So here, guardianship, apparently after reading the laws, has left us alone. And they left the granddaughter and are not bothering me or my children. Everything is fine with us,» the mother of many children told 29.RU.
The Isakogorsky District Court sentenced Natalia Kulish to 3 years and 6 months with a fine of 30,000 rubles (approximately $330 at current rates), deferring the sentence until her youngest son, Alexiy, turns 14. He is now 8. Natalia will spend this time at liberty.
About the move and successes
The Kulish family faced threats, which led Natalia to plan to move from Arkhangelsk with the children. Plans changed, but they still had to change their place of residence:
«I couldn»t decide for so long myself, but then my daughter and I decided to rent a place, we rented, moved to live in the city. And now Victoria can«t reach us, she can»t do anything to us. So we can say a big thank you to Victoria; if it weren«t for her, we probably wouldn»t have moved from our dilapidated housing on the Left Bank. She pushed me towards a new life, I wouldn«t have taken these steps, I would have stayed in my comfort zone.»
Last school year, Natalia Kulish«s children finished their studies remotely. After the move, the kids changed schools and continued studying in person. According to their mother, there are no problems with peers in the new place.
«Everything is calm, no remarks, no complaints. It would have been impossible to study at that other school. Again, because of Victoria, because of her children,» our interviewee shared.
The Kulish children continue to participate in sports and cultural events. In December, sons Alexiy and Ilya went to a sports acrobatics competition in Yaroslavl.
«Alexiy brought one second place and one third place in two team compositions. He received an adult second rank in the federation. We continue our volunteer activities. We also travel everywhere with concerts, doing charity work,» their mother added.
Charity and New Year
Before the New Year holidays, Natalia Kulish and other volunteers from the public organization «Priemnaya Semya» (Foster Family) delivered gifts to children from low-income and large families, as well as children with disabilities and children of participants in the special military operation. Natalia accompanied the «New Year»s Express,« and her daughter Lida was a snow maiden.
The family celebrated New Year«s itself in a home atmosphere. Then everyone went together to the Left Bank, to the TOS »named after Admiral Makarov«:
«We set up a Christmas tree there this year. In the district garden, we launched fireworks and danced in a round dance around the tree.»
During the holidays, the Kulish family traveled to the villages of Shomoksha and Pokrovskoye in the Onezhsky District with the concert program «Luchiki Dobra» (Rays of Goodness).
«We performed there and gave gifts. We were also supposed to perform in Ponga, but the crossing wasn»t operational, so we only left gifts there. Now we are preparing for the «Masquerade of the Calendar» contest, which will be held in «Solombala-Art,» preparing costumes,« Natalia shared.
«We will continue to seek the truth»
After the publication of the text about the mother of many children on 29.RU, Natalia Kulish«s story was shown on Channel One in the program »Pust Govoryat« (Let Them Talk) (16+). She says she received more support after her story was told across the country:
«Many people who saw my children responded. Very many people who don»t even know me, don«t know the story, all said that by looking at her (Victoria – Ed.) it»s clear she is simply lying, that she is just removing competition in this way. And, naturally, this situation clarified everything, who is who, as they say, who is a friend and who is just an acquaintance. People who are truly real friends have stayed with me and support me. And I now understand that these people will never betray.«
The criminal record has not affected the woman«s life. For example, the travel ban abroad does not bother her at all—she wasn»t planning to go there anyway. However, the northern woman wants to go all the way and plans to appeal the sentence in the cassation court:
«A relative found a lawyer in Petersburg, because the cassation court is held there. He himself will appear there and will defend my rights. Well, and he already has a fresh look at this whole situation. He pointed out many violations in our trial.»
«If, just in case, the cassation court leaves everything unchanged, then, naturally, we will go to the Supreme Court anyway, we will continue to seek the truth. Because we have to go through everything and not give up. Although this happens very often with guardians, unfortunately, when biological parents appear, aunts and uncles appear, and children are very impressionable.»
Natalia is prohibited from communicating with the adopted children, but she still worries about them:
«I know that they are not having an easy time in the orphanage, my heart still bleeds for them, I feel very sorry. After all, raising them for 9 years, well, what can you do, they chose their own life.»
Natalia Kulish was raising 11 children: five of her own, two of whom are already adults, and three underage adopted children. Another three came into the Kulish family with her former common-law husband.
The mother of many children looks to the future with positivity and continues to plan an active life for her large family. One of the goals for 2026 is to go camping in nature more often:
«Thanks to Victoria, you could say, I»ve mastered camping with the children. The children really liked it. They asked: «Mom, why didn»t we travel like this before?«. We are preparing vigorously. We bought tents, we have a field kitchen, toilets, everything is bought to relax in comfort.»
Natalia«s eldest daughter is graduating from school this year and plans to enter a university in St. Petersburg. Therefore, the question of the family moving from Arkhangelsk is still on the table, albeit in a longer-term perspective.
Recall that Natalia Kulish had hoped that participating in «Pust Govoryat» would influence the final sentence. We also spoke with the woman«s defender about whether real imprisonment could occur after the deferment period expires.
