Former Wagner mercenary, who was recruited from prison and committed a second murder while on leave, released once more to fight in Ukraine

A 29-year-old Russian inmate who was pardoned of murder charges upon joining Wagner Group in 2022 but returned to prison after committing another murder while on leave has signed a new contract with the Russian Defense Ministry and will be released from prison to join the war once again, human rights advocates report.

Ivan Rossomakhin was first convicted of murder in 2020, when he was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was released to join Wagner Group following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but in March 2023, he raped and murdered an 85-year-old woman while on leave in his hometown in central Russia. He reportedly confessed to the crime and was later sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Earlier in the war, Russian prisoners were granted amnesty in exchange for six months of service with Wagner Group, but BBC News Russian reported in January 2024 that inmates who sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry no longer receive pardons and that Moscow plans to extend their contracts indefinitely.