‘Execution’: Horror claims about Aussie teacher now believed to have been dead for weeks

The Aussie schoolteacher turned Ukrainian freedom fighter might have been dead for weeks, as horror details have emerged about his time as a prisoner.

An Australian schoolteacher who fought for Ukraine before being captured by Russia was likely executed after being robbed by a gang of brutal enemy soldiers nicknamed ‘orcs’, news.com.au understands.

Oscar Jenkins, 32, from Melbourne, is presumed dead three weeks after video emerged of his interrogation by a Russian speaking man in the occupied Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

What is believed to be his body was discovered near a temporary prisoner of war camp, with gruesome theories emerging about his fate.

Former Australian soldier and military lawyer Dr Glenn Kolomeitz is in touch with another Australian in Ukraine’s fighting forces.

That soldier claimed Ukrainians have taken drone footage of a body matching Mr Jenkins at an area where the Russians were known to be holding prisoners temporarily, further solidifying fears that the reports of his death are true.

“It would have been an execution,” Dr Kolomeitz told news.com.au.

It comes as Australia’s Prime Minister has vowed “the strongest possible action” if it does indeed come out that Mr Jenkins was killed in cold blood by his Russian captors.

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Dr Kolomeitz said it was “very unusual” that a foreign legionnaire taken prisoner would be killed by Russians, given the political value these hostages hold.

He said the Russians might have killed Mr Jenkins because their tactical situation “changed”, meaning they had to make a hasty retreat.

“On the way they’ve killed prisoners who posed a logistical liability to them,” he said.

Russia’s military is known to have very “loose” leadership structure and so Mr Jenkins might have been murdered by “orcs” — a term used to describe Russian soldiers who don’t follow the rule of law.

“It’s possible some junior Russians without any leadership have just killed him. That’s highly feasible,” Dr Kolomeitz added.

In the disturbing video showing Mr Jenkins’ capture and subsequent interrogation, they also asked him about his bank details.

“Maybe they robbed him and they killed him,” Dr Kolomeitz said.

Oscar

Another insider claimed to news.com.au that the Australian schoolteacher is believed to have been dead for weeks, since before the video first even emerged of his capture.

A person with knowledge of the matter, who did not wish to be named, told news.com.au that Russia hasn’t been able to locate Mr Jenkins from the day the video first emerged on December 23, and had never been able to confirm proof of life since the Australian government first started making overtures.

This source feared Mr Jenkins has been dead since at least the end of last year.

It comes as it was revealed that Mr Jenkins has been missing for possibly as long as four months.

An American soldier, who previously served alongside Mr Jenkins in Ukraine’s armed forces said he had been identified by a attoo on his hand.

“During the identification process they used the tattoo he had, and it was shown it was him … he had the word ‘vegan’ tattooed on his hand,” he told the ABC.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) learned last month that Mr Jenkins had disappeared as far back as August.

The source said that Russia might have wanted to make an example of the Aussie soldier to dissuade other foreign fighters from taking up arms for Ukraine.

DFAT said it holds “grave concerns” for Mr Jenkins’ welfare in the wake of reports that he has passed away.

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

Anthony Albanese is vowing to “take the strongest possible action” if Russian forces have indeed harmed Mr Jenkins.

“We call upon Russia to immediately confirm Oscar Jenkins’ status,” Mr Albanese told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.

This follows Foreign Minister Penny Wong saying that “all options are on the table”.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton demanded Australia take action if the worse proves to be true.

“We should send a clear message to Russia and to other similar minded regimes that Australians are sacrosanct, they deserve to be protected by their government and if they are harmed in this way and brutally executed as seems to be the suggestion in this case,” Mr Dutton said. “There should be a strong reaction,” Mr Dutton said.

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham reiterated this, saying “If Russia has engaged in such an egregious and illegal action then it must now be a catalyst for action.

“Nothing less than the recalling of Australia’s ambassador to Russia and expulsion of Russia’s ambassador to Australia would be sufficient in such circumstances.”

Russia has ‘hatred’ for foreign nationals

A Ukrainian official has lambasted Russia and for its track record against prisoners of war following the reports of Mr Jenkins’ death.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told the ABC on Wednesday “Russia has a deep-seated hatred of these foreigners, like Mr Jenkins”.

“While we send our respects to Mr Jenkins’ family, we also hope that the global community will respond strongly to Russia’s actions, particularly concerning the treatment of prisoners of war,” he said.

DFAT said “the Australian government is making urgent inquiries following reports of Oscar Jenkins’ death” and noted that the reports were not verified but they have been having urgent meetings.

“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 department continued.

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

The Australian government previously made a plea for the Russians to treat Mr Jenkins humanely while in captivity.

Mark Dreyfus, the acting Foreign Affairs Minister, said at the end of last month “We urge the Russian Government to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war.”

On the same day, Mr Birmingham referenced the fact that there were “far too many reports” of Russia failing to treat prisoners from Ukraine in this way.

A photo of Oscar Jenkins and a man claiming to be his former student is circulating on a popular Chinese messaging app. Picture: Supplied

Photos of Oscar Jenkins and his former students are circulating on a popular Chinese messaging app. Picture: Supplied

Australian-born Russian propagandist Simeon “Aussie Cossack” Boikov had previously floated the idea of a prisoner exchange between him and Mr Jenkins.

Mr Boikov is holed up in Sydney’s Russian consulate to dodge an arrest warrant issued over his alleged assault of a 76-year-old man at a pro-Ukraine rally last year.

The self described ‘Russian influencer’ previously called on his Russian compatriots not to kill Jenkins so that the prisoner swap deal could go ahead.

A representative relayed to news.com.au that Mr Boykoff is aware of the recent media speculation that Mr Jenkins is no longer alive. He hopes that it is misplaced conjecture and that Mr Jenkins remains in good health.

At least seven Australians are believed to have died fighting on Ukraine’s side against Russia since the war began in February 2022.

Mr Jenkins is the first Australian known to have been taken prisoner by Russian forces.

Mr Jenkins is believed to have moved to China in 2015 where he started working as a lecturer at Tianjin college two years later.

The 32-year-old is a former student at Victoria’s prestigious Melbourne Grammar and later studied biomedical sciences at Monash University, as per his LinkedIn profile.

Before moving to China, we worked as a junior coach at Toorak-Prahran Cricket Club in Victoria.

Originally published as ‘Execution’: Horror claims about Aussie teacher now believed to have been dead for weeks