Ukraine works to free Aussie fighter, as talk turns to spy swap

Ukraine says it is trying to get captured Australian man Oscar Jenkins swapped for Russian ­prisoners of war, but Kremlin may seek a higher-value prize – alleged Russian-born Australian spies, Kira and Igor Korolev.

Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins appears before a Russia-controlled court in Luhansk on Friday May 16, 2025. Picture: Russian Prosecutor’s Office

Ukraine’s top diplomat in Australia says the country is trying to get captured Australian man Oscar Jenkins swapped for Russian ­prisoners of war, amid speculation the Kremlin will seek a higher-value prize – alleged Russian-born Australian spies, Kira and Igor Korolev.

Anthony Albanese discussed Mr Jenkins’ plight with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome on Sunday following a deal between Kyiv and Moscow to exchange 1000 captured fighters.

“What we did was … in a diplomatic way, seek Ukraine’s further support for Oscar Jenkins,” the Prime Minister said after attending the Pope’s inaugural mass at the Vatican.

Mr Jenkins, a former Melbourne school teacher captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine, was sentenced last week to 13 years in a penal colony for fighting as a mercenary.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said his country’s negotiators were working hard on Mr Jenkins’ behalf. “It’s the top priority for our bilateral relations,” he said.

“We would like him to be released as soon as possible. Now that he’s sentenced by the kangaroo court in (Russian-annexed) Luhansk, it opens up the door for him to be swapped eventually.

“However, we don’t know the timeline. Can he be included amongst 1000 people to be swapped? Maybe yes, maybe no. I don’t know. But of course, I’d love him to be included on that list.”

Anthony Albanese meets with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome.

Former Australian ambassador to Russia, Peter Tesch, said Russia’s treatment of Mr Jenkins as a mercenary rather than a prisoner of war had “created a position from which they, if they so wish, can manoeuvre”.

“Certainly the Kremlin, as we’ve seen, once it has engaged the interest of the other side, it’s a matter of agreeing the price. This is always, from the Kremlin’s point of view, a negotiable undertaking,” he told The Australian.

“This will be something that the government has to work through very carefully, and out of respect for my former colleagues, out of respect for Jenkins, I really don’t want to be speculating about what might happen and what might be a fair price if somebody decides this is something that has to be done.”

Mr Tesch declined to comment on whether Moscow would seek the Korolevs, who were born in Russia but have Australian citizenship, but some in Canberra’s diplomatic circles believe the Kremlin may use Mr Jenkins as a bargaining chip to demand their return.

“If I was the Russian government, and I’m just playing devil’s advocate here, I would be thinking about those Russians in Brisbane,” one source said.

Russian-born Australians Igor and Kira Korolev have been charged with espionage offences after authorities allegedly caught the wife trying to pass information to Moscow. Picture: Facebook

The couple were charged in July last year over allegations they were sending state secrets to Russia while Ms Korolev was working for the Australian Army.

Ms Korolev, who was employed with the Australian Defence Force as an information systems technician, allegedly undertook undeclared travel to Russia while on leave, a court heard. During her trip, she allegedly instructed her husband – who stayed in Australia – to log into her work account from their Brisbane home. The couple allegedly maintained a relationship with affiliates of Russia’s intelligence services, according to court documents.

In his talks with Mr Zelensky, Mr Albanese assured his ­Ukrainian counterpart that 49 ­retired Australian M1A1 Abrams tanks were being shipped to his country, after an earlier holdup caused by US delays in approving the transfer.

Mr Zelensky thanked Mr Albanese for “the news of the tanks” and called for more economic sanctions against Russia.

Mr Albanese said Australia had already imposed 1400 sanctions against Russian companies and individuals and would “continue to look at whatever we can do to place pressure on Russia”.