Man who killed ex-wife before being freed from jail by Vladimir Putin 'faked own death'

A killer freed from jail to fight for Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine war faked his own death, his former father-in-law claims.

Sergei Kadatsky was drafted by the Russian army for his “shooting skills” after he ambushed and gunned down his ex-wife in a moving car.

He was released from his 15-year sentence for killing former spouse Yulia Donchik, 36, in the sniper-style shooting.

But reports claimed he had died in the war and been awarded a posthumous bravery medal by pro-Russian rulers in Luhansk.

The case spotlighted the Kremlin’s 'depravity' in freeing hundreds of vicious murderers from jail and sending them into battle.

But an alarming new twist from Yulia’s father, who was also shot by 41-year-old Kadatsky, causing the amputation of his left arm and shoulder said his ex-son-in-law faked his frontline death.

Vladimir Svitsov said: “I understand that the motherland must be defended and there were penal battalions during World War 2, but I am outraged by the fact that Kadatsky, after serving only five years in jail, got a chance to gain his freedom.

“I find it unfair that criminals guilty of such crimes as killing my daughter get such a chance.”

He warned: “I do not believe he had died.

“He is alive and well. He served for six months since May, and so qualified for his sentence to be commuted, with no more criminal liability.

“Then he supposedly died when he owed me and our family four million roubles (£54,000) in compensation which has not been paid.

“I think he will change his name, get a new passport.”

The distraught man has checked records and found there is no evidence of a funeral.

“I see only his award and no other information appeared on his death,” he said. “Where is the body?

“I checked forums of the village where his parents live. The body of this ‘hero’ should have been delivered and buried there.

“But there is no information. There was no funeral at all. So where is he? I believe he is alive.”

He fears Kadatsky may have paid a bribe to be released to avoid paying compensation.

It's claimed he started a new life, amid rumour hardened criminals freed to fight in Putin’s war forced to avoid being forced to fight on the frontline.

The dad also expressed concern the Putin scheme allows murderers and rapists to go free after surviving six months on the frontline.

He said: “Some people should not be freed after committing such crimes.

“Imagine Kadatsky walking the streets and suddenly appearing, sticking out his tongue at me?

“How am I supposed to take this after the way he has destroyed our family.”

His wife Lyudmila, Yulia’s mother, died last year aged 60, after she never recovered from the murder of her daughter.

He added: “I would like to rejoice about his death but I cannot."

Kadatsky was fired from the police in disgrace but this did not stop him being recruited to fight for Putin.

He had carefully planned the sniper-style hit on the Rostov-Taganrog highway in southern Russia, using a hunting rifle with special optical sights.

After the car came to a halt, Kadatsky fired a pistol at his victims.

Yulia, a law firm employee who had a son, then 15, from a previous relationship, died on the spot while her father was grievously wounded.

The shooting came after she won a court battle against him following their divorce.

Kadatsky claimed he killed her in a “crime of passion”, but a court ruled it has been a cold-blooded murder.

He was freed to fight for the Wagner Group, a private army run by close Putin crony Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has become a billionaire from his close links to the Kremlin president.