Olusegun Ariyo
The Australian government has summoned the Russian ambassador over reports that a Melbourne man had been killed after being captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made this disclosure on Wednesday during a media conference.
Albanese said the government had asked Russian authorities to immediately confirm the status of Oscar Jenkins and remained concerned over reports that he had been killed.
“We’ll await the facts to come out. But if there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, that’s reprehensible, and the Australian government will take the strongest action possible,” Albanese said.
When asked if Australia would expel the Russian ambassador or recall its envoy in Moscow, Albanese said his government would determine its response after confirming all reports.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia had been maintaining a very difficult relationship with Russia under different governments, adding that the Russian ambassador was summoned by the foreign ministry earlier this week.
“We will look at the facts when they have been ascertained, but I want to be clear that all options are on the table,” Wong said.
According to Australian media reports, Jenkins, a teacher from Melbourne, was serving alongside Ukraine’s military when he was captured by Russia last year as a prisoner of war.
The reports said that a video taken at the time showed him, dressed in combat uniform, being asked if he was a mercenary.
Urban Express News Online reports that Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West’s support for Ukraine and has been supplying aid, ammunition, and defence equipment.
It has banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.
