Australian Oscar Jenkins charged by Russian authorities
Russian authorities have laid criminal charges against captured Australian man Oscar Jenkins, who was a volunteer fighter for Ukraine.
Russian authorities have charged captured Australian man Oscar Jenkins under the criminal code of participating as a “mercenary in an armed conflict”.
A statement from the Prosecutor’s Office of the Luhansk People’s Republic confirmed the criminal charges against the 33-year-old, who was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine in December 2024.
NewsWire understands he was fighting as part of the 402nd Rifle Battalion in Ukraine’s 66th Mechanised Brigade when he was captured near Makiivka, a tiny village on the Zherebets River in Luhansk Oblast.
According to the indictment, Mr Jenkins arrived in Ukraine in February 2024 and participated in the conflict between March and December that year, where he is alleged to have received a “monthly reward” of $11,400 and $15,000 per month.
“While at the Ternopil recruiting centre, he signed a contract with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, after which he received a military uniform, equipment, weapons and ammunition for it and was sent to serve in the village of Shchurovo, Kramatorsk district, Donetsk People’s Republic,” the statement read.
When questioned about the captured Australian on Saturday, Anthony Albanese said he had “certainly not” forgotten about him.
“We will continue to make representations to the reprehensible regime of Vladimir Putin on behalf of Mr Jenkins,” he told reporters on Saturday.
“We will stand up and use whatever avenues we have at our disposal.”
The Prime Minister labelled Russia as a “reprehensible regime” and reiterated his position that he is prepared to consider Australia’s involvement in a peace keeping force.
“The Russian war against the people of Ukraine is a war against international law. It’s against national sovereignty,” he said.
“The people of Ukraine are fighting for a democratic nation, for their own sovereignty but they’re also fighting for the international rule of law.”
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman told NewsWire they continued to advocate for Mr Jenkins’ release.
“We continue to hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins and are working with Ukraine and other partners to advocate for his welfare and release,” they said.
Foreigners travelling to fight in Ukraine have been considered “mercenaries” by Russian authorities, which means they can then be criminally charged, unlike a “prisoner of war”, who would have protections and rights under the Geneva Convention.
Last month, British citizen James Scott Rhys Anderson was sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges of “mercenary activities” and terrorism after being captured by Russian forces in November 2024 while fighting for Ukraine.
The 33-year-old is understood to have been fighting as part of the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine, a coalition comprised of former soldiers and foreign volunteers.
The Melbourne Grammar School teacher had no prior military background.
According to Mr Jenkins’ LinkedIn, from 2015 he worked as a language teacher in China before becoming a lecturer at the Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College.
Footage of the captured man circulated on pro-Russian social media, showing Mr Jenkins with his hands tied while soldiers ask for his name and where he came from.
“Oscar Jenkins, 32 years old” he said in broken Ukrainian to the soldiers.
He explained he was a teacher who lived in “Australia and Ukraine”, and was asked what he was doing there.
“I’m a soldier,” he said, before being slapped on the head.
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