An Australian who fought alongside the Ukrainian army in the war against Russia will be tried as a “mercenary” by Russian authorities.
Oskar Jenkins, a 33-year-old from Melbourne, allegedly fought with the Ukrainian army between March and December 2024. He will now be tried as a “mercenary,” potentially facing up to 15 years in prison, pro-Russian local authorities in Luhansk reported on Friday.
Luhansk is one of the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
Jenkins’ arrest came to light in December last year when a video of him in captivity circulated on social media, showing him visibly weakened. The Australian government demanded his release, but its efforts were unsuccessful.
Russia systematically views foreign volunteers fighting for the Ukrainian army as mercenaries, prosecuting them under Russian law.
Several foreigners, mainly Britons, have been convicted in recent years by courts in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
In October last year, a man in his 70s received a six-year, ten-month prison sentence for “mercenarism.”
