In new legal documents obtained by TMZ, Artem characterizes Nikki as the aggressor, alleging that her anger issues contributed to his arrest in late August and ultimately destroyed their two-year marriage. He submitted photographs to the court showing injuries to his hand, elbow, and the back of his head, which he claims were caused by Nikki.
According to Artem, the incident began on August 29 while he was preparing breakfast for their four-year-old son, Matteo, in their Napa County home. Nikki, he says, was also present and stressed about a Netflix event. Their argument reportedly escalated over his toasting skills and the contents of Matteo's lunch box, leading to Nikki criticizing him for packing quesadillas and chicken tenders.
After Artem left the kitchen to help Matteo, he alleges that Nikki followed him into the living room, berating him for not putting Matteo's shoes on correctly. Artem claims that in response to her yelling, he defended himself, which only intensified her anger. She allegedly threw sneakers at him and struck him in the chest, while Matteo stood nearby, frightened.
In an attempt to protect Matteo, Artem took him upstairs. Nikki followed and allegedly tried to force her way into the room while he held the door shut. Artem eventually squeezed through a gap to prevent further conflict. He claims Nikki then physically attacked him, leading to a struggle on the floor. After breaking free, Artem called 911 while Nikki shouted threats in the background.
Artem alleges that during the altercation, Nikki said, "Do you understand here this is gonna go now Artem. You just ruined my career and you know it."
However, Nikki's restraining order presents a different account, stating that Artem tackled her after their argument and pushed her to the ground. She claims he then held her down in a way that made her feel suffocated.
When police arrived, Artem provided his account of the events, while Nikki gave her version, which he insists is a false narrative intended to get him arrested for domestic violence. He was taken into custody, but the Napa County District Attorney declined to charge him due to a lack of evidence.
In his court filing, Artem sought a temporary restraining order against Nikki, which the judge granted. Following the altercation, Nikki filed for divorce, although it's unclear if a prenuptial agreement exists between the couple.