In a heart-wrenching story of misguided beliefs and tragic experimentation, a father who was influential in the world of lifestyle blogging has admitted to letting his newborn son starve to death in an attempt to prove that the baby could survive solely on sunlight. This shocking and devastating decision resulted in the tragic demise of his infant son, Kosmos, who sadly succumbed to pneumonia and extreme malnutrition. Maxim Lyutyi, a 44-year-old Russian father, now faces up to eight years in prison and a significant fine for intentionally causing grievous harm to his child.
The reality of the situation sank in for Lyutyi as he confessed his guilt during a final court appearance before his sentencing in Sochi. Initially, he tried to shift the blame onto his partner, Oxana Mironova, who has already received a non-custodial sentence of two years of correctional labor.
Lyutyi’s obsession with an extreme lifestyle, characterized by highly restrictive diets made up of raw ingredients, led him to fervently promote prana-eating—a practice where individuals abstain from food and water for extended periods, allegedly sustaining themselves solely on sunlight. Tragically, this fanaticism even led him to prevent Mironova from breastfeeding their child, as he believed in the radical notion of sunlight sustenance.
A source close to the family revealed, “He wanted to experiment on the child, feed him purely with the sun, and then advertise it to others as a viable method of nourishment.” This level of fanaticism went beyond dietary preferences, with Mironova’s mother accusing Lyutyi of running a “sect” and exercising coercive control over her daughter. Despite her family’s concerns, Mironova remained trapped in Lyutyi’s grip, perceived by her loved ones as nothing more than a submissive “slave.”
Relatives shared stories of Mironova’s fear of Lyutyi, describing her futile attempts to secretly breastfeed their baby while living under his oppressive regime. Olesya Nikolayeva, Mironova’s cousin, lamented, “He forced her not to feed the baby. Her boyfriend believed that the sun was enough to nourish the baby…but a baby needs their mother’s milk.”
As Kosmos wasted away due to lack of proper nourishment, the extent of Lyutyi’s delusion became painfully evident. Despite eventually seeking medical help for their severely malnourished child, it was unfortunately too late. Doctors could do nothing to reverse the devastating effects of severe malnutrition.
Mironova’s mother shared her anguish, recounting her futile attempts to support her daughter financially while helplessly watching the tragic events unfold. “He forbade her from feeding the child…but she secretly bought baby food,” she revealed, shedding light on the insidious control Lyutyi exerted over Mironova’s choices.
In a chilling scene inside the courtroom, Lyutyi, once an advocate for extreme lifestyles, now finds himself behind bars, facing the consequences of his misguided beliefs. Meanwhile, Mironova, convicted for her involvement in the infant’s death, is also facing her own punishment.
The heart-wrenching story of Maxim Lyutyi and Oxana Mironova serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of fanaticism and the devastating consequences of neglecting the most basic needs of a vulnerable child. As the court delivers its verdict, the haunting memory of baby Kosmos stands as a poignant reminder of the price paid for misguided convictions.
