A convicted assassin launched from jail to battle for Vladimir Putin is being hunted as he stands accused of 'raping' a teenage woman.

Alexei Khlebnikov, 35, beforehand acclaimed as a "hero" for his involvement within the Ukrainian battle, has gone into hiding within the Volgograd area.

Russian authorities have confirmed that Khlebnikov, a former inmate, is now a federal fugitive suspected of the sexual assault of the younger woman, who's presently in intensive care following the incident at a farm.

Khlebnikov had a historical past of convictions, together with the homicide of an individual utilizing a glass bottle, together with prior situations of theft and theft.

Despite being sentenced to an 11-year jail time period for homicide, he was launched after lower than two years to take part in Putin's army efforts in Ukraine as a part of the Wagner mercenary military, the place he was discharged after simply six months.

A supply instructed the Mirror: "He served in Wagner then returned home [after serving in the war]. The search is on for him, but he has escaped. A search is underway."

Another ex-convict, Vyacheslav Samoilov, aged 42, who additionally participated within the battle and has since been launched, was beforehand convicted of the brutal homicide and dismemberment of Olga Shlyamina, a former magnificence queen contestant and mom, with whom he had a relationship.

Samoilov had hid the proof of his crime, disposing of the sufferer's stays and the homicide weapon.

Samoilov was initially sentenced to almost a decade in a high-security jail however was permitted to affix the battle effort earlier than serving a fifth of his time period.

His mom, Olga, sparked native outrage within the Arkhangelsk area of Novodvinsk when she proudly introduced that her son had returned residence, having been granted clemency by Putin.

She mentioned: "He is now clean before God. He is free, he was pardoned. He starts life from a clean slate."