Oscar Jenkins Sentenced to 13 Years in Russian Prison

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An Australian citizen has been sentenced by Russia to 13 years in a maximum-security facility for participating with Ukrainian forces, according to state prosecutors in a Russian-controlled area of eastern Ukraine.

Oscar Jenkins, a 33-year-old Melbourne resident, was found guilty of being a “mercenary in an armed conflict” and received a 13-year sentence in a “strict regime penal colony” from a Russian court in Ukraine’s eastern Lugansk region.

The ruling determined that Jenkins was involved in military actions against Russian forces spanning from March to December 2024.

Russia and its eastern Ukrainian proxies consider foreigners travelling to fight in Ukraine as “mercenaries”.

This enables them to prosecute them under its criminal code, rather than treating them as captured prisoners of war with protections and rights under the Geneva Convention.

Russia-installed prosecutors said Jenkins “took part in combat operations against Russian military personnel between March and December 2024”.

They posted a video showing Jenkins standing in a courtroom behind a glass cage, his hands behind his back and his expression despondent.

A man standing behind glass windows, wearing a striped shirt, blue jeans and with a despondent look on his face.

Russian prosecutors released a video of Jenkins standing behind a glass enclosure in the courtroom. Source: Supplied / Prosecutors Office of Russian-controlled Luhansk

Wong says Jenkins must be treated as prisoner of war

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has sharply criticised Jenkins’ sentence, saying the Australian government was “appalled at the sham trial”.

Wong said that as a “full serving member of the regular Armed Forces of Ukraine”, Jenkins was a prisoner of war, and that the Australian government had demanded Russia give him “the protections afforded to him as a prisoner of war”.

“Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment. We continue to hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins.”

Wong said the Australian government was working with Ukraine and other partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to advocate for Jenkins’ welfare and release.

Wong said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to provide consular support to Jenkins’ family.

Penny Wong speaking in front of yellow and white walls.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized Russia’s responsibility to treat Jenkins according to international humanitarian standards. Source: AAP / Dominic Giannini

Opposition home affairs spokesperson James Paterson described the situation as an egregious breach of international law, echoing Wong’s comments.

“Russia is relying on, frankly, a unique reading of the law to arrive at the position that he could be treated any differently other than a prisoner of war,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday evening.

“He is a prisoner of war, he was fighting for the Ukrainian National Army, he was part of the Ukrainian Army, and he’s afforded all the protections of the Geneva Convention under that.”

Man wearing army greens in three-split image.

Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has previously said his government added Jenkins to its list of prisoners of war and would negotiate for his release in an exchange. Source: AAP / Supplied

Russian forces captured Jenkins in December 2024.

, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “We certainly have not.”

“[Australia will] continue to make representations to the reprehensible regime of Vladimir Putin on behalf of Mr Jenkins,” he said.

He said Australia remained committed to Ukraine’s fight “for the international rule of law” and reaffirmed that his government would consider sending troops to support a Europe-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

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