Russian Wagner soldier convicted for murder, returns from war in Ukraine and kills again

The Baza Telegram channel reported that the local police chief said that the man had a contract with the Wagner PMC and had come home for a vacation. Shortly before the murder, local television aired a story about Rossomakhin, which stated that the man kept his native village of Novyi Burets in fear.

According to a local TV report, 28-year-old Ivan Rossomakhin had been convicted several times before (the last time for murder) and fought in the PMC. On March 21, Rossomakhin returned to Novyi Burets and immediately caused many problems for the residents. The man walked the streets with an ax and a knife, smashed cars and, as the residents say in the story, threatened to kill everyone. The villagers complained about Rosomakhin.

The head of the local police was summoned to deal with the violent man, who assured him that Rossomakhin had been arrested for his deeds under an administrative article, but would soon be sent back under supervision to his place of service away from Kirov region.

“We have an individual named Rossomakhin who returned from a 'special military operation'. It was expected that he would act strange, because he is known to be a problematic person. He is currently under administrative arrest. Tomorrow evening his day ends, we release him, he gathers his belongings accompanied by his staff, and on Tuesday we put him on a train to get out of here,” police chief Vadim Varankin told residents.

But shortly after the story was broadcast, on March 29, a resident of the neighboring town of Vyatskiye Polyany found his mother's corpse in his house. The woman had been beaten and had stab wounds on her body. Ivan Rossomakhin was detained on suspicion of murder. According to Baza, he has made a confession.

It is unknown why Rossomakhin was not followed. The local police are currently investigating.

Yevgeny Prigozhin commented on the murder the former Wagner fighter is suspected of committing. He stated that the company is ready to assist law enforcement agencies in relation to any PMC fighter, and offered to report if any of the former convicts behave aggressively.

"If there is any risk, we need to be informed. We will send our recruiting group, and send him to the front, where he should take out his aggression," Prigozhin wrote on his Telegram channel.

In addition, Prigozhin reminded that since January, the PMC has not been recruiting fighters from among former prisoners: "For certain administrative reasons."

• On March 25, Prigozhin said that Putin had pardoned 5,000 convicts who fought against Ukraine. They can return to their home regions.