Littleproud warns Australians against ‘adventure running’ to Ukraine after Melbourne man captured
Australians have been warned that “Russians are not our friends” after a Melbourne man was captured in Ukraine.
Anthony Albanese has dodged questions about when his government learned Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, citing “security issues”.
Footage of Mr Jenkins getting interrogated by Russian forces began circulating on pro-Kremlin social media channels on Sunday.
But it is unclear when the video was shot and Australia’s embassy in Moscow has been scrambling to get details on his whereabouts.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday said again that his government was “making representations”.
“We have called in the Russian ambassador to Canberra to make appropriate representations,” he told reporters in Darwin.
“Our Australian embassy in Moscow is also making representations to secure a positive outcome.
“It is an opportunity for us to say that the warnings ... about travelling to areas of conflict are ones that should be heeded by Australians.
“This is not a safe or secure thing to do, and there is a risk involved, but we will continue to, as we always do, make representations on behalf of Australians.”
Suggestions the Albanese government knew of Mr Jenkins’ capture weeks or even months ago were reported by some media outlets on Tuesday.
Asked when his government started talking to Moscow about Mr Jenkins, Mr Albanese repeated remarks he made on Monday to “always look after Australians”.
He was asked point blank when Australians officials learned Mr Jenkins was captured.
“When notification occurs, we take action on behalf of Australian citizens,” Mr Albanese said.
Pressed further, he said “there are security issues involved”.
“But we make this point that it is a dangerous thing to do, to enter into a war zone in a time of conflict two,” he said.
A Ukrainian security source confirmed to NewsWire Mr Jenkins was serving in the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine.
The source did not say where exactly the Australian was last deployed or when he was taken prisoner.
The video of Mr Jenkins suggested he was captured near Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian stronghold near the front lines in the eastern Donetsk Oblast.
It is a key strategic city for Ukraine and a major target for Russian forces.
A fellow foreign fighter who served with Mr Jenkins described him to the ABC as “very patriotic” and a “hell of a damn good soldier”.
‘Not our friends’: Ukraine warning to Aussies
Earlier, Nationals leader David Littleproud warned Australians that “Russians are not our friends” in a call on citizens to think twice before heading to Ukraine.
The senior opposition MP said the Australian government was in a tough spot.
“This is a difficult situation with the government, that they’ve been put in, and this isn’t something that Australians need to think. that this is a great adventure running to the Ukraine,” he told Sky News.
“That’s a war zone, and bad things are going to happen. The Russians are not our friends, and they won’t treat you as a friend, and the Australian government just can’t waltz in and get you out.”
The video of Mr Jenkins emerged just days after Australia pledged fresh aid to Ukraine and announced the reopening of the embassy in Kyiv.
Canberra has given Kyiv north of $1.5bn worth of support, including munitions and battle tanks.
The bipartisan backing for Ukraine has landed Australia a spot on Russia’s register of “unfriendly countries” – the Kremlin’s geopolitical naughty list.
Mr Littleproud said there was “not a lot to negotiate with”.
Pro-Russia propagandist Simeon Boikov, known by his moniker Aussie Cossack, has offered himself up for a prisoner swap.
Boikov has been hiding at the Russian consulate in Sydney since he was convicted of assaulting a 76-year-old man at a pro-Ukraine rally in Sydney more than two years ago.
Since entering the consulate he has been pumping out Kremlin disinformation from a makeshift studio, including politically-charged falsehoods around the high-profile stabbings in Sydney earlier this year and the 2023 Voice referendum.
Mr Littleproud downplayed the plausibility of Boikov getting the swap, pointing out that he “isn’t a prisoner”.
“He’s there in his own volition because he’s running away from charges from our law,” the senior Coalition MP said.
“Now, I think the government needs to be given the space to work through this and to work through this constructively.
“And if there are options available, then obviously, with the appropriate briefings, I think the Coalition stands ready to support them in whatever endeavours they can do.
“But just appreciate this is a difficult situation the Australian government’s been put in, and that Australia should understand there is no magic wand for any government to be able to negotiate with Russia. So stay away.”
How and when Mr Jenkins got to Ukraine remains unclear.
The video of his interrogation showed him responding to questions in broken Ukrainian and Russian.
His inability to speak fluently appeared to frustrate his Russian interrogator, who hit him several times and repeatedly swore at him.
At one point, the Russian asks him: “Do you want to live?”
Mr Jenkins replies: “I want to help Ukraine”.
Acting foreign affairs minister and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said on Monday the government was providing consular support to Mr Jenkins’ family, and that Australian officials were “making representations to the Russian government”.
We urge the Russian Government to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war.
“Our immediate priority is understanding where Mr Jenkins is and confirming his wellbeing.
“I reiterate the Government’s clear advice to all Australians – do not travel to Ukraine.”
Russia’s war in Ukraine has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands on both sides and displaced more than 10 million people.
Some 11,500 Ukrainians have found safe haven in Australia.
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