Australian volunteer believed to be alive in Russian captivity after presumed dead
Pravda Ukraine
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on 29 January, that the Australian government had received a message from Russia claiming that Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins, who fought for Ukraine and was previously reported dead after being taken prisoner by Russia, may still be alive.
Source: Albanese in a comment to ABC
Details: Albanese noted that Australia is currently seeking further confirmation.
Quote: “I am reticent to confirm that is the case, but certainly that is the statement that has been made by Russian authorities to our department. We have received that information through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but we are seeking confirmation.”
Background:
- On 15 January, CNN, citing a statement by Albanese, reported that the Russians may have killed Jenkins. Australia promised to take “the strongest action possible” if this information is confirmed.
- CNN noted that the Russians captured Jenkins in December 2024. Later, a video of him being interrogated was released online, but CNN was unable to establish the location. The footage shows that Jenkins’ hands are tightly tied, and he seems to have difficulty understanding the questions asked in Russian.
- The Australian television channel ABC and CNN affiliate Seven News reported that Jenkins had presumably been killed in captivity. The channels cited sources in Ukraine but did not disclose their names.
- On 17 January, Slidstvo.info, a team of independent professional journalists, found out that a video with the alleged body of Jenkins was published four years ago on an Iranian website, and its description refers to the events in Nagorno-Karabakh.
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