Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins is alive and in Russian captivity following reports he was executed after he was captured while fighting for Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday afternoon confirmed reports Melbourne-born teacher Oscar Jenkins is alive.
The 32-year-old had travelled to the war zone and was serving alongside Ukraine’s army when he was captured by Russian soldiers late last year.
and threatened Russia it would face an ‘unequivocal’ response if Mr Jenkins was harmed.
‘The Australian Government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody. We still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war,’ Ms Wong said.
‘The Government calls on Russia to release Mr Jenkins. If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal. (The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) continues to provide consular support to the family.
‘We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.
‘I have also spoken directly with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister and the President of the ICRC and am grateful for their ongoing advocacy for Mr Jenkins.’
On January 15, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to take the ‘strongest action possible’ against Russia if it was confirmed Mr Jenkins had died since being captured while fighting in Ukraine.
Recent unconfirmed reports said the prisoner of war was executed, prompting the Australian government to launch ‘urgent enquiries’ with Moscow and to call in the Russian ambassador for an explanation.
A foreign soldier, who served alongside Mr Jenkins in Ukraine’s 66th mechanised brigade, claimed the Australian was tortured and executed to make an example of him to other would-be foreign mercenaries.
Australia is seeking more details from Russia, Mr Albanese said.
Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins (pictured) is believed to be alive and in Russian captivity following reports that he was executed after he was captured while fighting for Ukraine
Mr Jenkins was captured by the Russian military while serving as a foreign mercenary for Ukraine (pictured, soldiers patrolling Ukraine’s border)
Mr Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, had travelled to the war zone and was serving alongside Ukraine’s army when he was captured by Russian soldiers late last year
The Prime Minister said he had ‘received that information through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’ and was ‘seeking confirmation’.
‘I am reticent to confirm that is the case, but certainly that has been the statement made by Russian authorities through to our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials as well, so if that is the case it certainly would be welcome,’ he told the ABC.
‘It is something that we have demanded information on and we are demanding more information so that we can be certain that what has been suggested is in fact the case.’
More to come…
