**Australia Continues to Push for Release of Australian Citizen in Russian Captivity**
The Australian government will continue to lobby Russia for the release of Oscar Jenkins, an Australian citizen who was captured while fighting on behalf of Ukraine. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made this announcement on April 19.
“We’ll keep making representations to the Russian regime about Mr. Jenkins,” Albanese said in a statement. “We will stand up and use all avenues at our disposal to continue to make those representations.”
**The Circumstances Surrounding Oscar Jenkins’ Capture**
Oscar Jenkins disappeared on December 16, 2024, during a combat operation near the village of Mykolaivka in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk Oblast. At the time, he was deployed with the 402nd Separate Rifle Battalion, a unit within Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
In the weeks that followed, unconfirmed reports emerged claiming that Jenkins had been executed while in Russian captivity. The Australian government sought clarification from Moscow regarding his status.
However, on February 8, a video appeared to show Jenkins alive but visibly injured in Russian captivity.
**International Law and Prisoners of War**
The Geneva Conventions require all parties to an armed conflict to treat prisoners of war with respect and dignity. However, Russia has been reported to have executed a number of POWs.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, has stated that Jenkins should be treated as a prisoner of war just like Ukrainian citizens fighting for their country. He added that Jenkins’ official contract with the Ukrainian armed forces makes him a legitimate POW and that he should be released in a prisoner exchange.
**The Larger Issue**
Kyiv’s repatriation efforts have predominantly focused on returning Ukrainian soldiers, leaving foreign fighters who serve in Ukraine’s military in a vulnerable position if they are captured by Russian forces. The case of Belarusian soldier Vasyl Verameichyk, who was detained by Belarusian security services while on holiday in Vietnam and is now being held in custody in Belarus, highlights this issue.
In conclusion, the Australian government will continue to push for the release of Oscar Jenkins, an Australian citizen captured while fighting on behalf of Ukraine. This situation raises important questions about international law, prisoners of war, and the treatment of foreign fighters who serve in Ukraine’s military.
