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Fears Aussie POW killed by Russian forces in Ukraine

Oscar Jenkins POW

Source: X 

Australian officials are urgently trying to determine the fate of Melbourne teacher Oscar Jenkins, amid reports he’s been killed by Russian forces in Ukraine, as the federal opposition calls for a strong response.

The 32-year-old had been taken prisoner of war and was captured in social media videos last month visibly bruised and shaken while being interrogated and beaten by a Russian-speaking captor.

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

The Russian ambassador was called into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to try to get clarity on the reports and to “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,” DFAT’s statement read.

“DFAT is continuing to provide consular support to Mr Jenkins’ family during this difficult time.”

Meanwhile the federal opposition is demanding the expulsion of the Russian ambassador if the reports are true.

Oscar Jenkins

Oscar Jenkins with comrades in Ukraine. Photo: Supplied

Senator Simon Birmingham said if Russia had undertaken an extrajudicial execution of a captured Australian citizen then the Albanese government should respond in the strongest possible terms.

“Three years ago the then Labor opposition urged Russian diplomatic expulsions, yet in government Labor have undertaken no such action.

“If Russia has engaged in such an egregious and illegal action then it must now be a catalyst for action.”

Birmingham said nothing less than recalling Australia’s ambassador to Russia and expelling Russia’s ambassador in Canberra would be enough in such circumstances.

In the social media video circulated last month, Jenkins was shown speaking a mix of broken Russian and English.

“Live in Australia and Ukraine. I’m a teacher,” he said.

The man asked Jenkins in Russian how it was he came to be in Kramatorsk, a town 700 kilometres east of Kyiv in the Donbas region, near the Russian-Ukrainian frontline.

Standing in army fatigues in a forest, Jenkins told the man he wanted to help Ukraine and had previously lived in China.

Oscar Jenkins 'vegan' (language warning)

Source: X 

Another video surfaced online of Jenkins talking about veganism and his lack of friends.

According to a LinkedIn profile matching Jenkins’ details, he went to Melbourne Grammar School before working for seven years as a university lecturer in Tianjin, China.

Jenkins is the first Australian combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces in Ukraine.

His death would mark the first for an Australian prisoner of war in more than 70 years.

Russia has said foreign citizens fighting for Ukraine will be prosecuted as mercenaries and face up to 15 years in jail. The status would contravene international law.

-AAP

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