The Australian government is urgently seeking information about the fate of Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, who is believed to be the first Australian held as a prisoner of war by Russia in Ukraine. Reports suggest that Mr. Jenkins was killed by Russian forces in the Donbas region, prompting Australia's Foreign Minister to warn Russia that all diplomatic options are on the table.
A video surfaced online in December depicting Australia n man Oscar Jenkins being interrogated and assaulted by Russia n forces. This footage renewed anxieties about his well-being after reports emerged suggesting that he had been killed by Russia n troops in Ukraine 's Donbas region. Oscar Jenkins , a 32-year-old from Melbourne, is believed to be the first Australia n held as a prisoner of war by Russia in Ukraine .
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is conducting 'urgent enquiries' with Russian authorities regarding Mr. Jenkins' welfare. The Australian government expressed 'grave concerns' for Mr. Jenkins' safety, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong asserted that all diplomatic options were on the table. This includes the possibility of expelling Russia's ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky.Senator Wong has already summoned the Russian ambassador to Australia to demand information about Mr. Jenkins' fate. Meanwhile, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warned that Russia harbors a 'deep-seated hatred' for foreign nationals fighting for Ukraine. He highlighted that Russia disregarded international conventions, including those pertaining to the treatment of prisoners of war. Podolyak emphasized that individuals fighting for Ukraine, like Mr. Jenkins, voluntarily understood the risks involved and chose to stand for freedom and the rule of law. He urged the international community to condemn Russia's actions concerning prisoners of war.The December video, showing Russian soldiers interrogating and striking Mr. Jenkins while his hands were bound with duct tape, intensified worldwide concern. DFAT summoned Russia's ambassador in an effort to obtain more information. Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham stated that if reports of Mr. Jenkins' 'extrajudicial execution' were confirmed, the Russian ambassador should be expelled. Another foreign fighter who served alongside Mr. Jenkins described him as 'the best soldier, man and person you can ever imagine'. While Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not address Mr. Jenkins' case during a lengthy press conference in Moscow, the last official update from Russia came on December 25th. This incident highlights the grave danger faced by foreign volunteers fighting in Ukraine.
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