Australia Protests Russian Jailing of Jenkins in Ukraine

Oscar Jenkins, a 33-year-old Australian and former teacher from Melbourne, has been sentenced by a Russian-controlled court in eastern Ukraine to 13 years in a maximum-security penal colony for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Russian authorities designated him a mercenary, denying him prisoner of war protections under the Geneva Convention. Jenkins was captured in December 2024, and after initial false reports of his death, video footage released in January and February 2025 showed him alive but injured, with a broken arm and significant weight loss. The Australian government has repeatedly called for his release and summoned the Russian ambassador to protest his treatment. Jenkins' case has underscored international concerns over the legal status of foreign fighters in the Ukraine conflict. Diplomatic efforts by Australia are ongoing.