A woman whose violent ex kidnapped her and subjected her to brutal beatings while she was pregnant has tracked down more victims to keep him jailed as long as possible.
The young woman in search of justice from Novosibirsk, Russia, was named only as Nadezhda.
Five years ago, she met her now-ex Nikita Marshaluk, and the two moved in together shortly after they began dating. She worked in a pet shop, and he took occasional jobs as a delivery driver.
Picture shows Novosibirsk resident Nadezhda, undated. She sued her ex-boyfriend for kidnapping and torture. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
Before long, she says Marshaluk became intensely jealous: he monitored her messages, started arguments, and began hitting her.
In August 2021, Nadezhda found out he had been cheating and tried to end the relationship.
In response, he reportedly assaulted her, forced her into a car, took her to his home, and subjected her to several days of abuse while she was seven months pregnant with their daughter.
Picture shows Novosibirsk resident Nadezhda, undated. She sued her ex-boyfriend for kidnapping and torture. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
For four days, he beat her with a shovel, an iron, a stool, a knife on the head, face and legs, and cut off her hair.
She eventually managed to escape and was hospitalised. Despite this, Marshaluk convinced her to return through manipulative apologies and gifts.
Nadezhda recalled: "Within weeks it all started again: jealousy, beatings, and I'd go to work covered in bruises.
"I lived in fear. I couldn't bring myself to tell my parents or go to the police.
"He's a monster. He beat me when I was seven months pregnant."
In November 2022, she gave birth to his child and fled. She turned to the police for help and succeeded in getting a criminal case opened.
In 2024, a court sentenced Marshaluk to five years in a high-security prison. He has since appealed the sentence.
But Nadezhda's brave speaking out led to her discovering two more of his victims.
Picture shows Novosibirsk resident Nadezhda, undated. She sued her ex-boyfriend for kidnapping and torture. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
One of them, Tatyana Kremlyova, came forward with similar allegations.
Tatyana told how she dated Marshaluk before he and Nadezhda met, back in 2020.
The relationship started out with him showering her with gifts and compliments, and he convinced her to move in together after just three months.
And it was not long before the abuse began, Tatyana says.
She recounted: "When I didn't do as he said, he'd beat me, for wearing something he didn't approve of, for cooking the wrong thing, or for sleeping when he came home.
Picture shows Tatyana's bruises, undated. She was one of the first victims. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
"This went on for six months. He'd lock me in the flat, take the keys, and leave. I couldn’t even go to the shop.
"My body was covered in bruises. Sometimes we'd visit his mother — he’d drag her into another room and you could hear him hitting her for drinking alcohol."
Tatyana claimed she never spoke out for fear he would target her family.
And during one brutal beating session, Tatyana said he hit her so severely he broke her back.
Marshaluk took her to the hospital, but she says she was too afraid to ask for help from the medics.
Picture shows Tatyana's bruises, undated. She was one of the first victims. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
And when they returned home, she claims he beat her some more after accusing her of flirting with the doctors.
Eventually, with the help of her family, Tatyana managed to escape the relationship and moved to St Petersburg.
She is now finally ready to press charges.
Picture shows Nikita Marshalyuk, undated. He beat his girlfriends. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
Tatyana added: "Lawyers told me the statute of limitations on my injuries hasn’t expired, so I can still file a report.
"Five years in prison isn't nearly enough for someone like him. I'm afraid he'll be released and hurt more women."
(Simona Kitanovska / newsX)