Australian Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Russian Prison for Fighting in Ukraine

Oscar Jenkins, an Australian national from Melbourne, was sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security prison by a Russian-backed court in Luhansk. Captured last December, Jenkins was charged with acting as a mercenary in what Russian authorities claim was an armed conflict against their troops. Official reports suggest he arrived in Ukraine in February 2024, allegedly receiving monthly payments ranging from 600,000 to 800,000 rubles (about £5,500 to £7,300) for his military role.

Video footage released in December portrayed Jenkins in a distressing state, with his hands bound, being assaulted, and interrogated by Russian forces, who inquired whether he was being compensated for his involvement. Following reports surrounding Jenkins’ capture, Australia’s government moved to summon the Russian ambassador due to misinformation about his supposed death. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated calls for Jenkins’ release, stating that Australia will continue advocating on his behalf.

The case of Jenkins mirrors that of British national James Scott Rhys Anderson, who was sentenced to 19 years for similar charges, marking the first conviction of a British citizen by Russia throughout the ongoing war. Anderson was captured in November in the Kursk region after a brief involvement in the conflict initiated by Ukrainian forces.

The tension in Luhansk, occupied by Russian forces since 2014, continues to escalate as international condemnation of such sentences against foreign fighters mounts alongside allegations of human rights violations in the region.