Australia warns of ‘strongest possible action’ if citizen killed in Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine War

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government was working to verify reports that volunteers had been killed by Russian forces.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to take “the strongest possible action” against Russia if Russian forces are confirmed to have killed a Melbourne school teacher while he was captive in Ukraine .

Albanese made the remarks on Wednesday after Seven News reported that Oscar Jenkins, who had volunteered to fight with Ukrainian forces, was reportedly killed.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had not verified the report, which cited unnamed sources in Ukraine, but officials have “serious concerns” about Jenkins’ welfare.

“We call on Russia to immediately confirm the status of Oscar Jenkins, we remain gravely concerned,” Albanese told reporters in Tasmania.

“We will wait until the facts are known. “But if any harm has been caused to Oscar Jenkins, that is absolutely reprehensible and the Australian government will take the strongest possible action.”

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said earlier that authorities were conducting “urgent investigations” into Jenkins and that “all options” were being considered in terms of a diplomatic response, including the possible expulsion of the ambassador. from Russia.

“My thoughts are with Mr. Jenkins’ family. They have lived for many months in fear and uncertainty of a loved one in the middle of a foreign war. I know these reports will be devastating for them, and they are in my thoughts, and I’m sure in the thoughts of many Australians,” Wong told ABC radio.

Wong said Australia had had a “difficult relationship” with Russia for many years, citing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 by a Russian-made missile in 2014, resulting in the loss of 298 people. including 38 Australians.

“We have maintained diplomatic relations with Russia throughout this period, under different governments. However, we will consider all options once we have established the facts and once we can verify what really happened here with Mr. Jenkins,” Wong said.

A video that circulated on social media last month showed Jenkins dressed in a combat uniform as he was interrogated and punched in the head by an invisible Russian-speaking man.

The 32-year-old is believed to be the first Australian held as a prisoner of war by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Not including Jenkins, at least six Australians are believed to have been killed in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion.

If his death is confirmed, Jenkins would be the first Australian prisoner of war killed by a foreign power since the death of Horace William “Slim” Madden in captivity in North Korea in 1951.