Oscar Jenkins: Australian man jailed in Russia after fighting for Ukraine speaks out
An Australian man jailed in Russia after fighting for Ukraine has spoken publicly for the first time since his capture, revealing why he chose to join the war.
An Australian man serving a 13-year prison sentence in Russia after being captured while fighting for Ukraine has given his first interview since being captured over a year ago, describing his decision to join the fight against Vladimir Putin’s invasion as the “right thing to do”.
Oscar Jenkins was sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security penal colony in May 2025 after a Russian-controlled court in Luhansk found him guilty of acting as “a mercenary in an armed conflict”.
Appearing gaunt and speaking from inside a prison facility in Russia to an Australian journalist based in Vladivostok, Mr Jenkins explained why he had decided to join Ukrainian forces in early 2024.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“It felt like the right thing to do; if a country invades another country, why?” “And if there’s not a good reason for that, like Taiwan, then that’s something that I should stand up for.”
“I’m a young guy. It’s not that my life doesn’t mean anything to me, but sacrifices might need to be made. That’s still the attitude I have.”
The former Melbourne cricket coach revealed he had told his Russian captors he would fight for them too.
“I’ve written a statement saying that I’d be happy to fight as a soldier for Russia. But if they don’t trust me or for whatever reason don’t want that, then I can understand,” Mr Jenkins said in an interview first reported by the ABC.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has previously described Mr Jenkin’s trail as a “sham” following his jailing and declared he should be treated as a “prisoner of war”.
Russia’s embassy last week also hit out at arrest of a 27-year-old man in Brisbane on charges of foreign interference claiming the move by Australian authorities was “taken in the interests of a foreign nation – Ukraine”.
