Soldiers who served alongside Oscar Jenkins in the Ukrainian armed forces say they are convinced their Australian comrade was killed by Russia’s military shortly after being captured last year.
Numerous foreign fighters and Ukraine supporters have told the ABC they believe the 32-year-old is dead.
But while authorities say they hold “grave fears” for the prisoner of war, they stress they have had no formal confirmation of his fate.
In December, a hostage video emerged of the captured Melbourne man being interrogated by Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine, weeks after Australian authorities were alerted to his “disappearance”.
An American soldier who previously served alongside Mr Jenkins in Ukraine’s armed forces said he was notified of his Australian friend’s death last week.
The foreign fighter, who asked to be identified by his call sign “Forrest”, said he believed his Australian comrade had been killed, and described his grief at losing his “best mate”.
“During the identification process they used the tattoo he had, and it was shown it was him … he had the word ‘vegan’ tattooed on his hand,” he told the ABC.
American “Forrest” with Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins. (Supplied)
Another Australian with links to Ukraine’s armed forces said he had been provided “unnerving information” that pointed to Oscar Jenkins being killed soon after being captured.
“Oscar’s body was discovered by my friend’s sister squad. It appears that they were executed,” said the military figure who is currently based in Ukraine.
“Oscar’s body was with three or four others who were from the same squad. [They were] all found in the same area where the video was taken,” the Australian figure told the ABC, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade first learned of concerns for the welfare of Mr Jenkins in November.
At least seven Australians are believed to have died fighting in Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022. But Mr Jenkins is believed to be the first to have been captured and held as a prisoner of war.
PM threatens ‘strongest action possible’ if reports of death confirmed
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it would be “absolutely reprehensible” if any harm had been caused to Mr Jenkins, but stressed Australia was yet to confirm what had happened to the prisoner of war.
“I spoke with the Ukrainian ambassador on Monday in my office,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Tasmania.
“We call upon Russia to immediately confirm Oscar Jenkins’s status. We remain gravely concerned.
“We will await the facts to come out but if there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, that’s absolutely reprehensible and the Australian government will take the strongest action possible.”
On Wednesday Foreign Minister Penny Wong also stressed that authorities were still working hard to verify Mr Jenkins’s fate, but insisted the expulsion of Russia’s ambassador to Canberra was a possibility.
“All options are on the table,” Senator Wong told the ABC’s AM program.
“I need to, as the foreign minister, identify and ascertain the facts beforehand.
“Obviously this does not occur in the context of a relationship that has been an easy relationship. This has been a very difficult relationship for many years.”
