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Oscar Jenkins speaks from Russian prison after 13-year sentence
Oscar Jenkins, an Australian man serving a 13-year sentence in a Russian maximum-security penal colony, has given his first interview since his capture. Jenkins was sentenced in May 2025 by a Russian-controlled court in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine after being found guilty of acting as a mercenary.
In the interview, Jenkins detailed his experience of surviving four days alone in a trench with a broken arm and a leg injury before being captured by Russian soldiers. He explained that his decision to join the Ukrainian military was motivated by a belief that it was the ‘right thing to do’ in response to the 2022 invasion.
Jenkins also made an offer to fight as a soldier for Russia, stating he had written a statement expressing his willingness to do so if they would trust him. The Australian government is currently advocating for his release, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong has characterized his trial as a ‘sham’ and called for him to be treated as a prisoner of war.
Entities
Australian Government · Luhansk · Oscar Jenkins · Penny Wong · Vladimir Putin
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Oscar Jenkins stated that joining the fight in Ukraine felt like the right thing to do. thenightly.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Jenkins survived four days alone in a trench with a broken arm before being captured.
- [● 3 SOURCES] A Russian-controlled court in Luhansk found Oscar Jenkins guilty of acting as a mercenary in an armed conflict. thenightly.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Oscar Jenkins has expressed a willingness to fight as a soldier for Russia. thenightly.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described Jenkins’ trial as a ‘sham’ and stated he should be treated as a prisoner of war. thenightly.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Oscar Jenkins was sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security penal colony. thenightly.com.au