<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>337236</docID> <postdate>2025-01-29 16:59:17</postdate> <headline>Australia confirms prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins alive</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-337237" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/r0_0_800_600_w1200_h678_fmax-2.webp" alt="" width="800" height="600" /></p> <caption>Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins is reported to be alive. (HANDOUT/'SLADKOV+' TELEGRAM ACCOUNT)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Dominic Giannini</b> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Australian Oscar Jenkins, held captive by Russia, has been confirmed to be alive, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said following fears of his execution.</strong></p> <p>There were still serious concerns about his welfare as a prisoner of war, Senator Wong said as she called for his release.</p> <p>"The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody," she said in a statement on Wednesday.</p> <p>"We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.</p> <p>"If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal."</p> <p>Senator Wong said she had also spoken with her Ukrainian counterpart the International Committee of the Red Cross president.</p> <p>The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to Mr Jenkins' family.</p> <p>Mr Jenkins was the first Australian combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces and his death would have marked the first for an Australian prisoner of war in more than 70 years.</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Russian authorities had told Australian officials Mr Jenkins was alive but he was reticent to offer official confirmation just prior to Senator Wong's statement.</p> <p>"If that is the case it certainly would be welcome," he told ABC TV on Wednesday.</p> <p>"It's something that we have demanded information on and we are demanding more information so that we can be certain that what has been suggested is, in fact, the case."</p> <p>In a social media video circulated in December, Mr Jenkins was shown speaking a mix of broken Russian and English.</p> <p>The Russian embassy in Canberra has been contacted for comment.</p> </body>