The ambassador was summoned: Canberra demands explanations from Russia over possible death of Australian in captivity

Officials in Canberra have summoned Russian Ambassador Alexei Pavlovsky to the Foreign Ministry following reports of the possible death of Australian Oscar Jenkins in Russian captivity. The 32-year-old Jenkins, who joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2024, was shown on video being interrogated and beaten by Russian soldiers.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed serious concern and threatened serious consequences if his death is confirmed. This was reported by DW.

A video that appeared on social media in December shows 32-year-old Jenkins in a military uniform with his hands tied. The Russian military subjected him to interrogation and beatings. Australian authorities say they are seeking confirmation of the information about his death.

"We call on Russia to immediately confirm the status of Oscar Jenkins. We are extremely concerned. We will wait for the facts to emerge. But if Oscar Jenkins has been harmed, it is outrageous. And the Australian government will take the strongest possible action," he told Anthony Albanese.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said that in case of Jenkins' death, diplomatic relations with Russia should be reviewed.

"We need to send a clear message to Russia and other similar regimes that Australians are untouchable, that they deserve to be protected by their government. If they have been harmed or brutally punished as alleged in this case, and we are awaiting confirmation, then the Prime Minister must respond strongly," Dutton emphasized.

The Russian Embassy in Australia is still referring to the statement of Maria Zakharova of December 25. She called Jenkins a "mercenary" and assured that the agency was "checking the information" about him.

Oscar Jenkins, a former teacher from Melbourne, had no combat experience before joining the Ukrainian defenders. His participation in the war was a personal choice, motivated by his support for Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the Russian occupiers began to build a new torture chamber in the captured Mariupol – on the site of the demolished one. In the Ukrainian city destroyed by bombing, they are trying to hide war crimes, which they call "filtration."

As a reminder, Ukrainian law enforcement officers have identified two Russian occupiers suspected of ill-treating Ukrainian civilians and committing war crimes. The invaders kidnapped and tortured the mother of a Ukrainian law enforcement officer, and one of them systematically raped the woman.

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