A man could be sent to jail after chopping off a rapist’s penis who attacked his wife.

The man, 27, was on his way home when he saw Dmitry Ivchenko strangling his wife and raping her.

According to police, Ivchenko covered the woman’s mouth with his hand to stop her screaming and dragged her into bushes in Shevchenkovo, eastern Ukraine.

It's believed the woman’s husband punched Ivchenko on the head, before grabbing his Swiss army knife and chopping his penis off.

Screams from the rapist and sobbing from the victim, woke up nearby residents who rushed to the scene.

The rapist was taken to Shevchenko District Hospital and underwent surgery.

It’s not confirmed whether doctors can reattach the penis or whether the rapist will regain full functionality of it.

FILE | It's believed he cut off the rapist's penis with a Swiss army knife. Credit: Getty

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Speaking about the husband’s reaction, his attorney Dmitry Spaskin explained to local media, "he did not understand what he was doing."

Chevron Right Icon 'He did not understand what he was doing.'

The morning after the attack, the victim’s husband handed himself into police, telling them he "can’t explain" what happened to him at that moment.

Ivchenko faces five years in jail, whereas the husband could be sentenced to up to eight years if found guilty.

According to The Metro, female residents of the village have supported the husband, believing the rapist would continue to assault girl if his penis had not been chopped off.

Prosecutor Tetiana Vasileva said Ivchenko explained how "he was dumped by his girlfriend a week ago. On the day of the incident he drank a litre of vodka. He is refusing to say more so far."