The convicted serial killer was given two life sentences plus an additional nine years following three separate trials for the shocking murders, but he recently asked to be released from prison so he could join the Wagner Private Military Group led by Putin crony Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Even more shocking are reports that Popkov’s actual death toll is “closer to 200” and he was known for raping his victims – aged between 18 to 50 – before killing them with screwdrivers, axes, knives, spades and hammers.

“I would not hesitate to [join the war],” Popkov told Russian state TV during an interview on Sunday, according to Daily Mail. “If I refer to my military registration profession, I think it’s in rather high demand now.”

“But even though I’ve been in prison for 10 years, I don’t think it would be so hard to learn [new skills] quickly,” he added.

[Based on what we’ve heard about Russian troops’ treatment of civilians in Ukraine, his skills pretty much fit the profile of Putin’s military. Putin has already mobilized nearly 40,000 prisoners to fight in Ukraine. — Ed]