Ukraine Confirms No Return of Australian Volunteer Oscar Jenkins’s Body as POW’s Fate Remains Unclear

Ukraine’s Ground Forces Command reported that Russian forces have not returned the body of Australian volunteer Oscar Jenkins. Additionally, the Office of the Prosecutor General stated they have no confirmation of his death, according to the Ukrainian media outlet Slidstvo.Info, which cited their respective sources on January 17.

Earlier, some media outlets and Telegram channels circulated a video allegedly showing Jenkins among dead soldiers. However, Slidstvo.Info journalists verified the footage, finding it was originally published four years ago on an Iranian website and described events in Nagorno-Karabakh .

Jenkins, a former biology teacher, joined Ukraine’s 402nd Rifle Battalion, part of the 66th Mechanized Brigade, signing his contract on April 4, 2024. During a mission near Mykolaivka, Luhansk region, on December 16, he went missing and was listed as a prisoner of war the same day.

Reports of Jenkins’ possible execution by Russian forces began circulating on January 15, with media citing comrades who claimed to have seen his body. One soldier told ABC News, “Oscar’s body was found by my friend’s sister. It looks like they were executed.”

Another comrade, identified by the call sign ‘Gump,’ said that Jenkins was captured during a clash with Russian forces and was allegedly tortured before being executed.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, noted that the news sparked widespread coverage in Australian media.

“On Wednesday and Thursday, my phone didn’t stop ringing. The Prime Minister was asked about the Australian government’s response if this is confirmed, and the Foreign Minister also faced questions about Oscar,” he said.

Following these reports, Australia summoned the Russian ambassador for explanations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a press conference, stating that his government is seeking “urgent clarifications” and is “deeply concerned.”

“If Oscar Jenkins has been harmed, it is absolutely unacceptable. The Australian government will take the strongest measures in response,” said Albanese.

Russian propagandist Aleksandr Sladkov later released a video showing Jenkins being interrogated by Russian forces. The footage depicted Jenkins, his hands tightly bound, being struck when he failed to respond to questions in Russian. He revealed he was 32 years old and a soldier in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On January 16, Sladkov claimed Jenkins was alive, writing, “This Australian ‘botanist’ was spared on the battlefield, fed, and taken to Russia. After a trial for his actions against Russia, he will either serve a sentence or return to Australia.”

Despite these claims, Russia has provided no evidence of Jenkins’ current condition or whereabouts.

Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence intercepted a communication between Russian military commanders and their subordinates, revealing an order to execute a captured soldier from Ukraine’s Armed Forces.