Bombshell footage of ‘weak’ Aussie soldier captured by Russian soldiers while fighting in Ukraine emerges – sparking fears for his welfare

Concerning new footage of Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins has emerged months after he was captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine.

The Albanese government has renewed calls to Russia to release the Melbourne-born teacher after an unverified video of him looking ‘weak’ and pale was uploaded to YouTube last week.

Government officials had ‘grave concerns’ for Mr Jenkins, 32, last month following unconfirmed reports he had been executed, only for him to be reported as alive in Russian captivity a fortnight later.

The new unverified video was seemingly created to dispel claims Mr Jenkins had died while in Russian captivity.

The footage showed a pale looking Mr Jenkins, dressed in a heavy coat, beanie and army gear, answering questions – believed to be from a Russian captor.

Mr Jenkins, 32, was asked to confirm his identity and the date in English, claiming it was January 17, 2025.  

‘Tell us about your health condition, about your mood. Are you okay?’ the man filming asked.

‘I would like more freedom,’ Jenkins answered.

Unseen footage has emerged of Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins, who was captured by Russian forces late last year

The Albanese Government has renewed calls for Oscar Jenkins to be released from Russian captivity

‘I feel a bit weak. I’ve lost a lot of weight. I have a broken arm still, I think, and my hand is not good.’

The man behind the camera said Mr Jenkins was a prisoner of war from the 66th Mechanised Brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine.

‘You are alive, so the information about your death is not right?’ the man behind the camera asked.

‘Correct,’ Mr Jenkins answered.

He’s then instructed to remove his beanie.

‘Everything is okay. He is alive and I think he will [be] better,’ the cameraman said.

The video ends with Mr Jenkins looking straight at the camera.

The new footage has prompted renewed calls from foreign affairs minister Penny Wong for the Australian to be released. 

Oscar Jenkins was instructed by the cameraman to take off his beanie during the footage, which is yet to be verified

‘We still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare,’ a spokesperson for the minister told the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.

‘Australia has made clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law.

‘The government calls on Russia to release Mr Jenkins.’

The latest plea comes after Senator Wong previously warned Russia it would face an ‘unequivocal’ response if Mr Jenkins was harmed.

‘The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody. We still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war,’ she said. 

‘If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal.

‘We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.

‘I have also spoken directly with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister and the President of the ICRC and am grateful for their ongoing advocacy for Mr Jenkins.’

It is unclear when Oscar Jenkins left Australia to assist in Ukraine’s defence against Russian invasion but it’s understood he was captured late last year.  He’s pictured in a previous video after being captured by Russian forces

Australian officials are working with Ukraine and the International Committee of the Red Cross to obtain consular access to Jenkins and verify his welfare. 

It is unclear when Mr Jenkins left Australia to assist in Ukraine’s defence against Russian invasion but it’s understood he was captured late last year.

News of his prisoner status first made headlines in December after footage emerged of an Australian being paraded in front of Russian soldier.

Mr Jenkins at the time told the camera he’d been fighting with Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region.

Mr Jenkins was born in Melbourne and attended Melbourne Grammar School.

He later studied biomedical sciences at Monash University and worked as a lecturer at a Tianjin college in China. 

Mr Jenkins was the first Australian combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces and, if rumours of his death were true, his passing would have marked the first for an Australian prisoner of war in more than 70 years.

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