As Australian officials scramble to confirm reports Melbourne man died in Ukraine, Penny Wong issues a warning to Russia

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned Russia that all diplomatic options are "on the table" following reports that an Australian man has been killed in Ukraine. Officials are urgently verifying the reports. The 32-year-old man from Melbourne, Oscar Jenkins, could be the first Australian prisoner of war captured by Russian forces in Ukraine.

On Tuesday, the Australian government confirmed they were making "urgent inquiries" with Russian authorities about reports that a Melbourne man may have been killed. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said that the reports from Channel Seven were yet to be verified, but that the government was "deeply concerned" for Mr. Jenkins. Senator Wong said she had summoned the Russian ambassador to Australia and was considering all diplomatic options, including expelling Alexey Pavlovsky.

“All options are on the table,” Ms. Wong stated explicitly in an interview with ABC Radio. She added, "My condolences go out to Mr. Jenkins' family. They have been living with fear and uncertainty about their loved one in a foreign war for months." Senator Wong also described Australia's relationship with Russia as "difficult." A senior Ukrainian official warned that Russia has a "deep-seated hatred" for foreign fighters like Oscar Jenkins.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, also stated that Moscow's forces "do not adhere to any conventions, including those regarding the treatment of prisoners of war," such as Mr. Jenkins. Speaking to the ABC in Kyiv, Podolyak said, "Individuals who fight for Ukraine sign the relevant legal documents voluntarily and are fully aware of the risks posed by Russia not only to Ukraine but to other countries." He added, "In my opinion, they are all heroes. Russia has a deep-seated hatred for these foreigners, like Mr. Jenkins, who chose to support Ukraine in upholding the rule of law and freedom."

Podolyak stated he "does not know" all the details of Mr. Jenkins' situation. He said, "While we extend our respects to Mr. Jenkins' family, we also want the international community to respond strongly to Russia's actions, particularly regarding the treatment of prisoners of war." The Geneva Conventions are supposed to protect prisoners of war like Mr. Jenkins. A video from last December showed Mr. Jenkins being interrogated and beaten by Russian forces while his hands were bound with tape. DFAT summoned Russian Ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky on Monday to seek further information.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the diplomat should be expelled if reports of Mr. Jenkins' "extrajudicial execution" are confirmed. Another foreign fighter who fought alongside Mr. Jenkins described him as "the best soldier, man, and human you could imagine." Soldiers who served in the Ukrainian armed forces said they were convinced their Australian comrade was killed by Russian forces soon after his capture last year. They told the ABC: “Ultimately, I am glad to call him my best friend and brother.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not mention Mr. Jenkins during a lengthy press conference in Moscow on Tuesday local time. The last update from the Russian government was on December 25 when spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Australia had contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry seeking information about Mr. Jenkins. She said Russia was investigating the matter. At least seven Australians are believed to have been killed fighting for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. But Mr. Jenkins, a teacher who had lived in China since 2017, would be the first Australian prisoner of war killed by a foreign power in more than 70 years.