CNN
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Australia has vowed it will take “the strongest possible action” if Russia harms any of its captured nationals fighting for Ukraine, after reports emerged the prisoner of war may have been killed.
Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces last month, after which a video surfaced of him being interrogated while wearing a military uniform.
This week, Australia’s national broadcaster ABC and CNN affiliate Seven News reported that the 32-year-old was likely killed, both citing Ukrainian sources.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was “seeking urgent clarification” on the situation, adding that he was “gravely concerned”.
“We have already called the Russian ambassador,” he said.
“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. »
He declined to give further details on what action Canberra might take.
A video showing Jenkins captured as a prisoner of war surfaced last month on Russian Telegram accounts, which CNN was unable to geolocate. In the footage, Jenkins’ hands are tightly bound and he appears to have difficulty understanding questions asked of him in Russian. A man hits him twice in the head.
Speaking in a mixture of English, Ukrainian and Russian, he identifies himself as “a soldier” and says he is a teacher in China and a student in Australia.
Jenkins is believed to have joined an international brigade among the Ukrainian ranks, which has recruited numerous foreign fighters since the war began in February 2022. The Australian government advises its citizens against traveling to Ukraine to fight, but some have nevertheless chosen to volunteer for international missions. brigades.
At least seven Australians are believed to have died in combat in Ukraine, according to ABC, but none died while being held captive.
Originally from Melbourne, Jenkins has worked as a university professor in the Chinese city of Tianjin since 2017, according to a LinkedIn profile under his name.
If killed, he would be the first Australian to die while a prisoner of war in more than half a century. The last person to die in such circumstances was HW Madden, captured during the Korean War in the 1950s, according to the Australian War Memorial.
Australia has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has given kyiv almost $1 billion in aid since 2022, while its military has provided training for Ukraine’s armed forces.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong was in kyiv last month to announce new aid packages and the reopening of the Canberra embassy in the Ukrainian capital.
In an interview with ABC on Wednesday, Wong said his department was “working very hard” to verify the facts regarding Jenkins’ safety.
“Russia is obliged to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law,” Wong said. “I want to be clear: all options are on the table. »
There have been numerous reports of Russian troops executing prisoners of war, which constitutes a war crime under international law.
In response to a request for comment, the Russian Embassy in Australia referred CNN to a statement made by Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, at a press conference last month. She said the department was “monitoring the situation in conjunction with relevant agencies” and accused Australia of supporting Ukraine.