A video purportedly showing Russia capturing an Australian man fighting for Ukraine on the Eastern Front has sparked an urgent federal investigation.
In footage circulated on the messaging service Telegram, the man, who gave his name as Oscar Jenkins, was repeatedly beaten and questioned roughly in Russian. Nine Newspaper, which first exposed the video, reported that the video was first shared by Russian journalist Alexander Sladkov.
CNN has contacted the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Wong Yin Yin for comment. Guardian Australia understands federal officials are working to verify the authenticity of the video and the details of the man involved; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that Russian forces sometimes spread incorrect information.
“This is concerning news and we are providing support through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including to the gentleman, to try to find out the details and facts,” he told a press conference on Monday morning. .
“We know that the Russians often publish incorrect information. So our embassy in Moscow is functioning. But in addition, the diplomatic and trade services are also working here.
In the video, Jenkins’ hands are bound with what appears to be tape or plastic. He was wearing a military uniform and his face was covered in dirt. He answered in English and broken Russian that he was 32 years old and lived in Australia and Ukraine.
“I’m Australian,” Jenkins said in English.
“Oscar Jenkins. 32 years old… I studied biology.
As Jenkins was being questioned in Russian, a man behind the camera appeared to hit Jenkins twice on the head with a stick.
Albanese said the government would “make appropriate representations” to the Russian authorities.
“We always look after Australians. That’s the Australian government’s job, to negotiate on behalf of Australian citizens,” he said.
Social media profiles in the name of Oscar Jenkins appear to show the man competing in a cross-country race in Hong Kong in 2017, wearing a vest emblazoned with the slogan “Vegan”, as well as a 2023 YouTube video titled “I Will Force China People “People Become Vegan” In that video, the man talks about wanting to talk to people about vegetarianism.
A LinkedIn page in the name of Oscar Jenkins shows a profile picture with a text graphic saying “Vegan Ukraine” superimposed on a map of the country, along with “Soldiers of Justice” and The words “Destroy evil and become good”.
The page, which did not post a photo of the user’s face, described Oscar Jenkins as a “marketing consultant and university lecturer” whose work experience includes being a lecturer at Tianjin Modern Vocational and Technical College in China and a foreign language teacher at Tianjin Modern Vocational and Technical College. In 2001, he took up a position at another Chinese school in Melbourne and held a number of positions, including working at Toorak Club and as junior cricket coach.
In a version of the interrogation video posted on Sladkov’s Telegram page, a caption written in Russian and translated into English said “our biologist was arrested in Australia.”
“What is this guy doing? Who is this guy?” the headline read.
“I hope everything goes well for this guy, the trial, the hard labor, everything is as it should be. I know Ukrainian prisoners. But what is this guy doing here?
There will be more to come.