Australia Vows to Take Strongest Action Possible if Russia Harmed Australian POW
Australia has vowed to take the “strongest action possible” if Russia has harmed Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old Australian national who was captured fighting for Ukraine. Reports have emerged that Jenkins may have been killed, with Australian national broadcaster ABC and CNN affiliate Seven News citing sources in Ukraine.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed grave concern over the situation, saying that the government has been “seeking urgent clarification” and has called in the Russian ambassador. “If there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, that is absolutely reprehensible,” he said. “And the Australian government will take the strongest action possible.”
A video surfaced last month showing Jenkins being taken as a prisoner of war, in which he is questioned while dressed in a military uniform. The Australian government advises its citizens against traveling to Ukraine to fight, but some have nonetheless chosen to volunteer with international brigades.
If Jenkins was killed, he would be the first Australian to have died while being held as a prisoner of war in more than half a century. The Australian government has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has given Kyiv close to $1 billion in assistance since 2022.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her department is “working very hard” to ascertain the facts surrounding Jenkins’ safety and warned that “all options are on the table.” Multiple reports have emerged of Russian troops executing prisoners of war, which is a war crime under international law.
The Russian embassy in Australia referred CNN to a statement by Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, who blamed Australia for supporting Ukraine.
