A Russian soldier missing since 1980 was found two weeks ago in Afghanistan.

Former Soviet soldier, Bakhredtin Khakimov went missing in action (MIA) about 33 years ago. He would be rescued by Afghan tribesmen.

"He received a heavy wound to the head in the course of a battle in Shanind district in September 1980 when he was picked up by local residents," the tribesmen said in a statement posted on their website. "He now leads a semi-nomadic life with the people who sheltered him."

Warriors-Internationalists Affairs Committee is a nonprofit, Moscow-based organization that leads the search for the former Soviet Union's MIAs in Afghanistan. The group was able to find the Russian soldier two weeks ago.

The group learned that Khakimov is now living under the name of Sheikh Abdullah and working as a traditional healer in the Shinand District of Afghanistan. The group said the former Russian soldier had no identity papers, but was able to positively identify photos of other Soviet servicemen who served at the time.

"He could understand Russian a little bit, but spoke it poorly, although he remembers his Uzbek language," the organization said. "The effects of his wounds were clearly manifested: His hand trembles and there is a visible tic in his shoulder."

The deputy head of the organization, Alexander Lavrentyev, told a news conference on Monday that Khakimov was "just happy he survived."

Lavrentyev claims a village elder used herbal healing techniques to nurse the Russian soldier back to life.

Local reports conflict with the Russian version of events.

A local journalist, Sharafudin Stanekzai, who spoke with Khakimov, told CNN that Khakimov separated from his unit after stealing a gun and then handed the weapon over to Mujahedeen Islamic guerilla fighters.

The Warriors-Internationalists Affairs Committee hasn't comment on those reports, but continues to track down 263 more soldiers, according to CNN.

Lavrentyev said 22 of the 29 soldiers found chose to be sent back to their homes while the others elected to stay on in Afghanistan.

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Protecting a Soviet-backed government against the Mujahedeen, which were trained by Western and Islamic countries.

According to figures cited by RIA from the Soviet General Staff, this war lasted almost ten years, killing 15,000 Russian soldiers.