**Australian Soldier Found Alive in Russian Captivity**
A video uploaded to YouTube on February 8 shows Australian volunteer soldier Oscar Jenkins, who was fighting for Ukraine, alive but injured. Jenkins, 32, had gone missing on December 16 while on a combat mission near the village of Mykolaivka in Luhansk Oblast.
In the video, Jenkins is seen looking weak and having lost a lot of weight. He also has a broken arm. When asked to confirm reports about his death, he replies “correct”. The video was taken on January 17, around the same time reports circulated that Jenkins had been executed by his Russian captors.
Jenkins was serving in the 402nd Separate Rifle Battalion, which is part of Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade. He was seen in a video released on Russian Telegram channels in late December being interrogated and beaten by Russian captors.
**Australian Officials Make Urgent Inquiries**
Reports of Jenkins’ death prompted Australian officials to make urgent inquiries to Russia about his whereabouts. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on January 29 that Jenkins was alive but that “we still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war”.
Russia has been accused of summarily executing Ukrainian POWs throughout the war, which is considered a gross violation of international law and a war crime.
**Background**
Jenkins had no military experience before traveling to Ukraine in 2024. He was described by the Australian media as “much loved” by his community, a talented cricket and football player who studied biomedical sciences and worked as a lecturer in China.
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