Australian PM asks Russia to explain what happened to Australian prisoner of war

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday his government would take “the strongest possible action” if Russia injured an Australian taken prisoner while fighting for Ukraine.

A video posted on social media in December showed Oscar Jenkins, 32, dressed in a military uniform with his hands tied, being questioned and beaten by a Russian interrogator.

Australian authorities were seeking comment from Russia on reports the Melbourne teacher had been killed since becoming a prisoner of war.

Albanese said officials at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were seeking “urgent clarification” on Jenkins’ situation.

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

“We will wait until the facts are known. But if any harm was done to Oscar Jenkins, that is absolutely reprehensible. And the Australian government will take the strongest possible action,” Albanese added.

Jenkins had no military experience before joining the Ukrainian Defense Forces early last year. While other Australians were killed in action in Ukraine, none died in Russian captivity.

Albanese did not specify what steps Australia might take if Jenkins dies.

Zareh Ghazarian, a political scientist at Monash University, said Australia’s maximum response would likely be to expel the Russian ambassador, remove the Australian ambassador from Moscow and impose additional sanctions against the Russia.

Australian military involvement in Ukraine involved training missions, but no Australian combat troops were involved in the war.

Australia was one of the most generous donors to the Ukraine war effort outside of NATO.

Three months ago, Australia announced it would give Ukraine 49 of its aging M1A1 Abrams tanks, worth A$245 million ($152 million).

These tanks brought the total value of Australian military assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022 to more than A$1.3 billion ($804 million).

Australian officials questioned Russian Ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky about Jenkins in the Australian capital of Canberra on Monday.

The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment Wednesday.