Australian volunteer fighter in Ukraine Oscar Jenkins reported dead

An Australian man believed to have been taken captive last year by Russian troops in Ukraine is feared to have been executed, just one day after the Russian ambassador was called in.

An Australian man believed to have been taken captive by Russian troops in Ukraine is feared to have been executed.

7NEWS reports Ukrainian sources have told them the body of Melbourne private school teacher Oscar Jenkins has been found three weeks after video emerged of his interrogation by a Russian speaking man in the occupied Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

DFAT says they are making ‘urgent inquiries following reports of Oscar Jenkins’ death’.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says “the Australian government is making urgent inquiries following reports of Oscar Jenkins’ death”.

“These reports have not been verified, but we continue to have grave concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare,” they said.

“At the Foreign Minister’s direction, the Russian ambassador was called into DFAT on 13 January to seek information and reiterate Australia’s expectations that Russia will comply with its obligations under international law.

“The Russian Federation is obligated to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law.”

The 32-year-old is understood to have been fighting as part of the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine, a coalition of foreign volunteers and former soldiers. The Melbourne Grammar School teacher had no prior military background.

Acting foreign affairs minister and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus previously warned Australians from attending the region.

“I reiterate the government’s clear advice to all Australians – do not travel to Ukraine,” he said.

DFAT is continuing to provide consular support to Mr Jenkins’ family.

Teacher to soldier

In videos that circulated on pro-Russian social media channels last last year, Mr Jenkins is seen with his hands tied, being hit several times by soldiers who ask for his name and where he is from.“Oscar Jenkins, 32 years old,” he responds.

“Live in Australia and Ukraine.”

After telling his captors he is a teacher, they asked what he is doing in Ukraine.
“I’m a soldier,” Mr Jenkins responded before being slapped in the head.

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

Oscar Jenkins in a Toorak-Prahan cricket club team shot. Picture: Instagram

Mr Jenkins previously spent time in China, working as a language teacher from 2015 and then a lecturer at Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College from 2017, according to his LinkedIn.

His icon on the website features a map of Ukraine, superimposed with the words ‘Vegan Ukraine,” “Righteous Soldier” and “Destroy evil, be good”.

Video has since emerged of Mr Jenkins’ going on a strange veganism rant on YouTube, titled “I WILL FORCE CHINESE PEOPLE TO BE VEGAN”.

In the video – posted to a YouTube channel bearing Mr Jenkins’ name in August 2023 – he rants about “moments of passion” and “little experiments” he says are “f**king” with his head.

“If you’re not vegan and you’re my friend, then you’re gonna be vegan soon, or we’re gonna fight,” he is heard saying.

Australian man Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine. Picture: Screengrab

He continues by saying he is “still talking” to his mother but otherwise says contact is “quite limited”.

Mr Jenkins is seen in the video wearing a blue shirt calling for the banning of diary products, with Chinese characters written underneath.“No-one’s going to f**king give me a wink and a nod,” he says while explaining he would wear his shirt outside.

“There won’t be any tables... set up with banners saying ‘talk to me I’m a vegan.’”

He finishes by saying someone wanted him to get a “reverse vasectomy”, which he refuses.

It is unclear where Mr Jenkins shot the video.

Concerns after videos released

Those close to Mr Jenkins expressed shock at his capture – including the president of the Toorak-Prahran Cricket Club in Melbourne, where he was a member.

“He’s a loved member of the cricket club. He’s a talented cricketer,” club president Neil Gumley said.

“I coached him for several years. I knew him since he was a kid.”

Captured Australian Oscar Jenkins pictured bottom row, left with Toorak-Prahran Cricket Club. Picture: Steve Tanner

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on December 23 said the Australian Embassy in Moscow was working to get details of Mr Jenkins’ detainment.

“We know that the Russians often put out information that isn’t right,” he said.

“So our embassy in Moscow is working. But in addition to that, Foreign Affairs and Trade are working here as well.”

He said his government would “make appropriate representations”.

The video of Mr Jenkins’ interrogation shows him responding to questions in broken Ukrainian, to the frustration of his interrogators.

At one point, a Russian asks him: “Do you want to live?”

Mr Jenkins replies: “I want to help Ukraine.”

Originally published as Australian volunteer fighter in Ukraine Oscar Jenkins reported dead