Australian man sentenced to 13 years for fighting in Ukraine war
- Oscar Jenkins, an Australian teacher, was captured while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces in December 2023.
- He was sentenced to 13 years in prison for participating as a mercenary in an armed conflict against Russian forces.
- The Australian government has consistently condemned the sentencing and is advocating for his release.
In December 2023, a 33-year-old Australian man named Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces while fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in Ukraine's Luhansk region. Following his capture, he was subjected to a Russian-controlled trial in eastern Ukraine, which resulted in a 13-year prison sentence under charges of participating in an armed conflict as a mercenary. Prosecutors claimed he was part of an international brigade and allegedly received a monthly payment between 600,000 and 800,000 rubles for his involvement in military operations against Russian troops. The trial and Jenkins's subsequent sentencing were met with international condemnation, particularly from the Australian government. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the proceedings as a