<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>335794</docID> <postdate>2024-12-23 10:20:20</postdate> <headline>Australian soldier captured by Russians in Ukraine</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-335801" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241223156578615590-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="881" height="587" /></p> <caption>Oscar Jenkins has reportedly been captured by pro-Russian forces while fighting in Ukraine. (Obtained via 'Sladkov+' Telegram Account/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jacob Shteyman</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>There are fears for the welfare of an Australian man reportedly captured by Russian soldiers while fighting with Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region.</strong></p> <p>In videos circulated on social media, the visibly bruised and shaken man identifies himself as Oscar Jenkins, 32, as he is interrogated and beaten by his Russian-speaking captor.</p> <p>"Live in Australia and Ukraine. I'm a teacher," he said, mixing broken Russian and English.</p> <p>Standing in army fatigues in a forest, Mr Jenkins tells the man he wanted to help Ukraine and had previously lived in China.</p> <p>According to a LinkedIn profile matching Mr Jenkins' details, he attended Melbourne Grammar School before working for seven years as a university lecturer in Tianjin, China.</p> <p>The Australian government said it was making urgent inquiries into the reports.</p> <p>His capture was "concerning news", Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.</p> <p>"We're working through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide support, including for this gentleman, trying to ascertain the details and the facts," he told reporters on Monday morning.</p> <p>"We know that the Russians often put out information that isn't right so our embassy in Moscow is working.</p> <p>"But in addition to that, Foreign Affairs and Trade are working here."</p> <p>If the details are confirmed, Mr Jenkins would be the first Australian combatant captured by Russian forces in Ukraine.</p> <p>Glenn Kolomeitz, a former Australian Army officer and lawyer, estimated upwards of 30 Australians were in the combat zone fighting with the Ukrainian foreign legion.</p> <p>"I now suspect that this guy will be exploited for propaganda purposes, to apply some sort of leverage to the Australian government," he told ABC Radio.</p> <p>Foreign hostages were valuable for Russia as bargaining chips to put pressure on foreign governments supporting the Ukrainian war effort or as propaganda tools, Dr Kolomeitz said.</p> <p>Russia has said foreign citizens fighting for Ukraine will be prosecuted as mercenaries and face up to 15 years in jail, which would contravene international law.</p> <p>"They're not mercenaries," Dr Kolomeitz said.</p> <p>"They are lawful combatants engaged in international armed conflict, and they're therefore entitled to full prisoner-of-war protections."</p> <p>Mr Albanese said the government would make "appropriate representations" on behalf of Mr Jenkins.</p> <p>"We always look after Australians," he said.</p> <p>"That's the job of an Australian government – it is to make representations for Australian citizens."</p> </body>