Australia summons Russian ambassador over reports captured Australian volunteer killed

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Russian service member from the country’s special operations forces is seen during a training exercise, Feb. 3, 2015. (Russian Ministry of Defense photo via Wikimedia Commons)

SYDNEY (Reuters) -     Australia summoned the Russian ambassador over reports a Melbourne man had been killed after being captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday.

The Australian government had asked Russian authorities to immediately confirm the status of Oscar Jenkins and remained "gravely concerned" over reports that he had been killed, Albanese said during a media conference.

"We'll await the facts to come out. But if there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, that's absolutely reprehensible and the Australian government will take the strongest action possible," Albanese said.

When asked by a reporter if Australia would expel the Russian ambassador or recall its envoy in Moscow, Albanese said his government would determine its response after verifying all reports.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia had been maintaining "a very difficult relationship for many years" with Russia under different governments.

"We will look at the facts when they have been ascertained but I want to be clear all options are on the table," Wong told ABC Radio on Wednesday. She said the Russian ambassador was summoned by the foreign ministry earlier this week.

Jenkins, a teacher from Melbourne, was serving alongside Ukraine's military when he was captured by Russia last year as a prisoner of war, Australian media reported. A video taken at the time showed him, dressed in combat uniform, being asked if he was a mercenary, reports said.

Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West's support for Ukraine and has been supplying aid, ammunition and defence equipment. 

It has banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.

 (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates)