A Russian-controlled court in occupied eastern Ukraine has sentenced 33-year-old Australian Oscar Jenkins to 13 years in maximum security prison for allegedly fighting as a mercenary alongside Ukrainian armed forces. The Melbourne teacher was captured in Luhansk region last December and convicted under Russia’s controversial laws targeting foreign fighters in Ukraine.
The Russian-installed court convicted Jenkins based on claims he received 600,000-800,000 rubles monthly (£5,500-£7,300) to fight against Russian troops – allegations Australia dismisses as fabricated. Disturbing footage from December showed Jenkins with bound hands being struck during interrogation by Russian forces demanding confirmation of payment.
This is the second high-profile conviction of a Western volunteer after British national James Scott Rhys Anderson received a 19-year sentence in March on similar charges.
The Australian Government’s Response
Australia has repeatedly summoned Russia’s ambassador and demanded Jenkins’ release, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemning the “reprehensible regime” of Vladimir Putin. The case has worsened the tensions between Moscow and Canberra, and is coming just months after Russia falsely claimed Jenkins had been killed in custody. Analysts view these trials as political theater reinforcing Putin’s narrative about Western interference in Ukraine, particularly in Donetsk and Luhansk – regions Moscow recognized as independent before its 2022 invasion.
Jenkins’ conviction follows Russia’s systematic persecution of international volunteers defending Ukraine. The harsh sentences appear designed to deter foreign fighters while propping up Moscow’s claims of battling “paid mercenaries” rather than legitimate Ukrainian allies.
With at least three other Westerners currently imprisoned on similar charges, human rights groups warn these show trials violate international law and typically feature coerced confessions. As fighting continues along the Ukraine-Russia frontline, Jenkins’ family and Australian officials face an uphill battle for his release through diplomatic channels.
