Penny Wong is warning “all options are on the table” amid reports Russian forces killed Australian man Oscar Jenkins after capturing him in eastern Ukraine.
The Foreign Minister said on Wednesday the Australian government held “grave concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare” and was “making urgent inquiries following the reports of his death”.
“We do need to ascertain the facts, and we’re working very hard to do that,” Senator Wong told the ABC.
Senator Wong said the Russian ambassador Aleksey Pavlovsky had been “called in” and that “Russia is obliged to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law, this includes humane treatment and the right to a fair trial”.
“We will look at the facts when they have been ascertained,” she said.
“But I want to be clear, all options are on the table.”
Footage showing Mr Jenkins, 32, being interrogated by Russian officials began circulating on pro-Russian social media channels in late December.
His inability to speak fluently appears to frustrate his Russian interrogator, who hits him multiple times and repeatedly swears at him and mocks him.
At one point, the Russian asks him: “Do you want to live?”
Mr Jenkins replies: “I want to help Ukraine.”
Australian man Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine. Picture: Screengrab
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she is working to ‘ascertain the facts’ amid reports Oscar Jenkins was killed. Picture: Screengrab
At the time, a Ukrainian security source confirmed to NewsWire Mr Jenkins was fighting as part of the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine, but could not comment on his status.
The video of Mr Jenkins emerged just days after Australia pledged fresh aid to Ukraine and announced the reopening of the embassy in Kyiv.
Canberra has given Kyiv north of $1.5bn worth of support, including munitions and battle tanks.
The bipartisan backing for Ukraine has landed Australia a spot on Russia’s register of “unfriendly countries” – the Kremlin’s geopolitical naughty list.
But Senator Wong pointed out relations between Australia and Russia have been in a poor state for more than a decade.
“Obviously, this does not occur in the context of relationship that has been an easy relationship,” she said.
“This has been a very difficult relationship for many years, including the downing of MH17 in 2014 as well as the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.
“Australia has maintained diplomatic relations with Russia through that period under different governments.
“However, we will consider all options once we have ascertained the facts and once we can verify what has actually occurred here with Mr Jenkins.”
A Ukrainian security source confirmed to NewsWire Oscar Jenkins was fighting as part of the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine. Picture: Supplied
It is unclear how Mr Jenkins, a vegan activist working as a college lecturer in China, found his way to the front lines in eastern Ukraine. Picture: Supplied
It is unclear how Mr Jenkins, a vegan activist working as a college lecturer in China, found his way to the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s International Legion is part of the Ukrainian defence forces, but its legality is ambiguous, made up largely by ex-soldiers and impassioned civilians from Ukraine’s Western allies.
Australia’s position on it has been especially murky.
Joining a foreign military is not illegal, but “entering or preparing to enter a foreign country to engage in a hostile activity” could get an Australian life behind bars, according to the Attorney-General’s Department.
The legion also blurs the lines of third country involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Most Western governments have advised their citizens against joining up but not actively blocked them from doing so.