Oscar Jenkins: Russian troops interrogate man claiming to be Australian soldier after capture in Ukraine

Footage has emerged of a man claiming to be an Australian solider being interrogated by Russian forces after he was captured in Ukraine with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying the vision is “concerning”.

The man is believed to be former biology teacher Oscar Jenkins, 32, who is fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine and was paraded by Russian soldiers in a video from the war-torn country.

Vision posted on X shows the man being hit in the head twice in the footage, with his Russian military interrogator saying in Russian: “Don’t blame me for slapping you.”

The video which runs for nearly two and half minutes shows a man who claims to be Mr Jenkins looking dishevelled, with his hands tied and speaking with a broad Australian accent.

He tries to communicate with the soldiers in various languages including English and Ukrainian, claiming he lives in Australia and Ukraine and is a student “studying biology, physiology”.

The questioning becomes heated as the Russian soldier asks him in Russian: “Where are you from?” Where are you from? Nationality? F**k, talk faster, f**k.”

Mr Jenkins then says: “I am a student, I am …” to which the interrogator says “Well, then, f**k, who the f**k are you? Name?”

Speaking to reporters in Sydney on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said reports of the captured Australian were “concerning” but that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the embassy in Moscow were trying to “ascertain the details and facts” on the ground.

“We know that the Russians often put out information that isn’t right,” he cautioned.

Mr Albanese stressed that support would be provided.

“We’ll make appropriate representations. We always look after Australians. That’s the job of an Australian government, to make representations for Australian citizens,” he said.

Russian soldiers ask Mr Jenkins his rank, his base, who is his commander and where are the headquarters, but Mr Jenkins doesn’t appear to understand the questions.

Mr Jenkins then says his first name is Oscar and provides a few more details about himself including, that he was helping Ukraine and was being paid in Ukrainian money.

One of the Russians then says: “So you are here for the money, you moron”

The Australian reported that other Russian social media communications on Telegram channels say Jenkins was captured by the military commander Alexander Skadkov and his troops in Kursk.

Skadkov states that the prisoner would now face trial and prison, adding that he “didn’t understand mercenaries”.