Oscar Jenkins: Anthony Albanese says ‘all options on the table’ after reports Melbourne man killed in Russia

Australia will take “the strongest possible action” and all options are on the table, the Government has warned Moscow as it scrambles to verify reports Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins has been killed by Russian forces while fighting in Ukraine.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is making “urgent enquiries” to verify the reports about Mr Jenkins, 32, who was serving alongside Ukrainian armed forces when he was captured last year.

Coalition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham said if reports of his “extrajudicial execution” were true, “nothing less than the recalling of Australia’s ambassador to Russia and expulsion of Russia’s ambassador to Australia” would be sufficient in response to such “illegal action.”

Russia’s ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky was summoned earlier this week by DFAT to provide further information.

Speaking to ABC’s Radio Breakfast, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had earlier said the Australian Government held “grave concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare”.

While DFAT was still trying to establish the facts of the case, she did not rule out tough consequences for Moscow, including the expulsion of the ambassador.

“All options are on the table. I need to as the Foreign Minister identify and ascertain the facts beforehand,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said if Mr Jenkins had been harmed by Moscow, “that is absolutely reprehensible, and the Australian Government will take the strongest action possible”.

But as to what that action might look like, Mr Albanese said he “wasn’t getting ahead of the facts”.

“That’s the responsible thing for us to do... I’m someone who’s Prime Minister of Australia, and we respond to the facts,” he said.

“I’ve said that we have called in the Russian ambassador already, we are seeking clarification as to whether Oscar Jenkins, any harm has occurred to (him), and we will take the strongest possible action if it is the case that any harm has been caused to him.”

DFAT reminded the ambassador about Russia’s obligations under international humanitarian law, including around the treatment of prisoners of war.

While not the first or only Australian to fight in Ukraine against Russia, Mr Jenkins was the first combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces.

His death would mark the first for an Australian prisoner of war in more than 70 years.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said if his death is confirmed, the Government “should take the strongest possible action”.

“That is the Ambassador should be withdrawn, and the Ambassador here in Australia should be sent packing,” he said.

“We should send a clear message to Russia and to other similar minded regimes that Australians are sacrosanct, they deserve to be protected by their Government and if they are harmed in this way... there should be a strong reaction from the Prime Minister.”

Labor Minister Ed Husic said Australia was providing consular assistance to the Jenkins family.

Asked about the possible expulsion of the ambassador, he said the Government would “not engage in hypotheticals”.

“I think we need to get to the detail of what’s occurred here, and finalise those inquiries, the Australian government clearly views this very seriously.”