Melbourne friend describes ex-Melbourne Grammar student Oscar Jenkins as a talented athlete with ‘big heart’

The former Melbourne Grammar student captured fighting for Ukraine rants about veganism and reversing a vasectomy in a bizarre YouTube video, as a school friend said he’d dropped off the radar since moving to China in 2015.

An old school friend of Oscar Jenkins described him as a well-liked guy with a “big heart” and a supremely talented athlete who dropped off the radar when he moved to China in 2015.

The friend said the school community was in a state of shock at the news of Mr Jenkins’ capture by Russian forces.

“I think we’re all a bit shocked to see what has happened to Oscar in Ukraine,” the friend said.

“It’s awful to see an old school friend being held prisoner, seeing him in military clothing being detained is really disturbing.”

Mr Jenkins graduated from Melbourne Grammar School in 2010, before studying at Monash University and then moving to China, where he has been working as a teacher for most of the last decade.

Captured Australian Oscar Jenkins completing in a cross country race in China in 2017. Picture: Instagram

Mr Jenkins often wrote about his veganism on social media.

Mr Jenkins excelled at cricket, footy and athletics during his time at school, with a picture shared by his friend showing Mr Jenkins running hard in a school relay race.

However, the friend said Mr Jenkins’ Australian mates had heard basically nothing from him since he left the country.

“Oscar was a great sports person and was well liked,” Mr Jenkins’ friend said.

“He had a big heart and a good sense of humour.

“He went off to China to teach a few years ago, and after that lost touch with a lot of his Australian mates.”

The friend said they did not know what would have prompted Mr Jenkins to leave China and fight in Ukraine.

In social media posts from the past two years, Mr Jenkins often wrote about his commitment to a vegan diet, before apologising for his fake veganism and revealing he had been eating chicken.

What is believed to be his current Facebook profile picture describes his commitment to “anti-natalism” — the belief that human beings giving birth is unethical.

In a YouTube video posted in August 2023, Mr Jenkins said he had few remaining friends other than his mother, and appeared to suggest he had undergone a vasectomy.

“The only people who are friends with me anyway are vegans, if you’re not vegan and you’re my friend then you’re going to be vegan soon, or we’re going to fight,” he said, in a video titled I Will Force Chinese People To Be Vegan.

“And my mum, still talking to my mum, otherwise it’s quite limited.”

In the same often rambling video, Mr Jenkins said he was planning to wear a blue T-shirt calling for the banning of dairy products outside in China, even if everybody thought he was a “freak”.

He also said he would only get a “reverse vasectomy” for the right person.

“Someone also wanted me to get a reverse vasectomy,” he said.

“No, no, that’s something that I would only consider if the person was very very special.”

The comments section of the video, which has only been viewed 2300 times, had been inundated by trolls mocking him for joining the war in Ukraine and delighting at his capture by Russia.

A friend described Mr Jenkins as a talented athlete. Picture: Instagram,

Mr Jenkins is also featured in a social media photo with teammates from Toorak Prahran Cricket Club.

The president of the club, where Mr Jenkins played and coached, said he was a typical cricket-loving Aussie who you’d want in any team.

Neil Gumley said Mr Jenkins, who batted at 3 and bowled first change, had played in the senior men’s flag-winning team in 2013/14.

“He’s just your typical Aussie, cricket playing (man),” Mr Gumley said.

“He’s loved at the club.

“You’d want him in any team.”

At the successful team’s 10-year reunion earlier this year Mr Jenkins had appeared in good spirits with nothing to suggest he was about to suddenly head to a warzone, Mr Gumley said.

“He was down in February, we had a reunion (and) he was in good spirits.

“He was part of our reunion, because it is ten years since we won the flag.

“It was fine, no issues there.”

Mr Gumley said the first Mr Jenkins’ former clubmates knew of his capture was when the news broke on Monday morning, with shocked teammates sharing bewildered messages via a group chat.

“I was just looking on Facebook and I saw it, I sort of said to our chat group, what the hell’s going on here?”

Mr Jenkins in his days playing with Toorak Prahran Cricket Club. Picture: Instagram

Mr Jenkins, back row far right, with his Toorak Prahran Cricket Club teammates. Picture: Instagram,

Mr Jenkins also has a special father-son connection with the club.

Scott Jenkins, who tragically passed in late 2022, was remembered as a giant supporter of his son’s cricket and a “familiar” face around Romanis Reserve.

A message from Mr Gamley following Scott’s death said the club would “sorely miss” his presence around the grounds.

Members of the Jenkins family are believed to be holed up in their Caulfield North home on Monday.

It is understood the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has urged the family to not speak out while the situation surrounding Mr Jenkins unfolds.

Mr Jenkins worked for events company The Big Group – owned by prominent Melbourne society couple Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh – from 2012 to 2015 where he undertook floor staff duties, including serving food and drinks at events.

Mr Jenkins’ Instagram profile features one photo of him running at the 2017 Yuen Long Cross Country Race in China.

In one comment posted in mid-2017, he responded to a friend saying: “New phone. Let’s go champ. What’s news?”

In recent hours, Mr Jenkins’ Instagram profile has also attracted dozens of negative comments from pro-Russian supporters, including torture and death threats.

Mr Jenkins’ school friend said the alumni community were thinking of the Jenkins family, especially with his shocking capture by Russian forces happening so close to Christmas.

“I really feel for his family, especially as Christmas approaches,” the friend said.

“We all just hope he can get to safety as soon as possible.”

Originally published as Melbourne friend describes ex-Melbourne Grammar student Oscar Jenkins as a talented athlete with ‘big heart’