An Australian man, Oscar Jenkins, was sentenced to 13 years in a Russian prison after being found guilty of fighting alongside Ukraine against Russian forces. Jenkins' case has drawn condemnation from the Australian government, which has consistently advocated for his release.
Australian Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Russian Jail for Fighting in Ukraine
Australian Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Russian Jail for Fighting in Ukraine
Oscar Jenkins was convicted by a Russian-controlled court for serving as a mercenary in the ongoing conflict.
An Australian man, Oscar Jenkins, aged 33, has been sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security prison following a trial by a Russian-controlled court in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine. The Australian teacher from Melbourne was convicted of participating in an armed conflict as a mercenary, according to Russian-installed prosecutors.
Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in December while fighting for Ukraine. Prosecutors allege that he arrived in Ukraine in February 2024 and was reportedly compensated between 600,000 to 800,000 rubles (roughly £5,504 to £7,339) per month for his involvement in military operations against Russian troops.
A disturbing video surfaced last December, in which Jenkins, visibly restrained, was seen being interrogated by Russian soldiers who inquired about any payments he received for his combat role. The situation escalated in January when the Australian government summoned the Russian ambassador amid false reports of Jenkins' death following his capture.
The Australian government has been vocal in demanding his release, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stating their ongoing efforts to represent Jenkins' case to the Russian government, deeming the regime under President Vladimir Putin as reprehensible.
This verdict mirrors a previous case involving a British national, James Scott Rhys Anderson, who was sentenced to 19 years by the Russian military courts for similar charges. Anderson was captured in Russia’s Kursk region just as tensions escalated with Ukraine. Prior to launching a full-scale invasion in February 2022, President Putin recognized Luhansk and Donetsk as independent regions, having seen Russian proxy forces engage in an insurgency there since 2014.
