The Russian Federal Security Service reported the capture of Oscar Jenkins in the Ukrainian region of Luhansk, annexed by Moscow.
The Australian government expressed its “concern” over the arrest of one of its citizens, whom Russia accuses of serving as a mercenary in the ranks of the Ukrainian army.
“We remain deeply concerned about (Oscar) Jenkins and are working with Ukraine and other partners to advocate for his welfare and release,” a spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement sent to the media.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Friday that the Australian citizen had been arrested in the Ukrainian region of Luhansk—annexed by Russia—and accused of the crime of mercenarism, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison under Russian law.
Reports of Jenkins’ possible detention—a former biology teacher—had been circulating in Australia since late December.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated during a campaign event ahead of the May 3 elections that his country would not abandon the detained citizen.
“We will continue to make representations on Jenkins’ behalf to the reprehensible regime of Vladimir Putin. We will remain firm and use every means at our disposal to continue pursuing these efforts,” Albanese declared.
According to the FSB, the man had signed a contract with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and fought within the ranks of the 66th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
After completing a training phase, he reportedly fought in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk.
In December 2024, a video circulated on Russian Telegram channels showing a man identified as 32-year-old Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins being interrogated after allegedly being captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine.
Jenkins had previously lived in the Australian city of Melbourne and studied biomechanical sciences before moving to China in 2015, where he began teaching at a university two years later. However, it remains unclear when he traveled to Ukraine.
According to Australian public broadcaster ABC, at least six Australians have died fighting in Ukrainian ranks since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Since the beginning of the war, Russia has reported the capture of several foreign fighters who joined Ukrainian forces, including citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Colombia, among others.
Earlier this year, Russia announced the detention of James Scott Rhys Anderson, a 22-year-old British national who fought alongside Ukrainians in the Russian region of Kursk.
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