Ivan Rossomakhin, a former inmate who fought for the Wagner Group in Ukraine, has signed a new contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and is heading back to the front lines.
First Sentenced 14 Years ago
This comes after Rossomakhin was convicted of murdering an 85-year-old woman and sentenced to 23 years in a strict-regime colony, according to Meduza.
Rossomakhin, 29, first received a 14-year sentence in 2020 for murder. However, he was released early to join the Wagner Group after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
After returning to his village of Novy Burets in March 2023, locals reported that Rossomakhin had been acting erratically, threatening neighbors while brandishing farm tools.
Charged with Rape and Murder
Just a week after his return, he was charged with the rape and murder of Yulia Buyskikh, an elderly woman from the nearby city of Vyatskiye Polyany. Authorities charged him with making threats, rape, and murder with particular cruelty.
In April 2024, he was sentenced to 22 years in a strict-regime colony, but this was increased to 23 years following an appeal. He was also ordered to pay the victim's family 2 million rubles (approximately $25,000) in moral damages.
Human rights activists have raised concerns, highlighting that Rossomakhin did not spend even six months in prison before being sent back into a war zone.
The recruitment of prisoners for combat roles in Ukraine has been a controversial practice since the summer of 2022. Initially organized by the Wagner Group, it has since expanded to include enlistments under the Russian Ministry of Defense, offering pardons and financial compensation in exchange for service.
