Oscar Jenkins gives first interview from Russian prison

Oscar Jenkins, an Australian citizen imprisoned in a Russian facility for 13 years following his capture during service in Ukraine's military, gave his first public interview from behind bars on August 31, 2026. In the conversation, Jenkins recounted surviving four days alone in a trench under enemy fire with injuries to both his arm and leg, and explained the motivations that led him to join Ukraine’s armed forces. The interview, conducted by Australian journalist Mark Lowe, was reported by the ABC and featured Jenkins wearing a green prison uniform. During the discussion, Jenkins expressed an unexpected willingness to fight for Russia, though he acknowledged that his request might not be accepted. Jenkins, originally from Melbourne, was captured in December 2024 while serving in Ukraine’s military. He was later tried in a court located in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine and convicted of acting as a mercenary in an armed conflict. The conviction resulted in a 13-year prison sentence. According to Jenkins, he had been part of a unit composed of Ukrainian soldiers and foreign volunteers, including Americans, Frenchmen, and British individuals, under the command of a 24-year-old British officer with prior combat experience. In the interview, Jenkins spoke about participating in approximately 10 missions, including one where he became separated from his unit and was eventually taken prisoner. He described conditions as chaotic, noting limited resources but sufficient to reach the front lines and attempt to hold positions. He mentioned digging a trench, having access to water and a backpack, and attempting to advance further despite the danger posed by drones and grenades. After sustaining injuries, he returned to the trench, enduring two more days with minimal sleep but adequate sustenance. Jenkins recounted being approached by someone offering assistance before being captured by three Russian soldiers. Following his capture, he was bound and subjected to harsh interrogation, which was recorded by Russian officials. Reflecting on his decision to go to Ukraine, Jenkins cited Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as a pivotal factor. He stated that he felt compelled to act if a nation invaded another without a valid justification, drawing parallels to potential scenarios involving Taiwan. Despite lacking formal military training, Jenkins disclosed that he had submitted a statement to Russian authorities expressing his desire to serve in their military. However, he admitted that he understood the possibility of his request being denied due to lack of trust or other reasons. Prior to choosing Ukraine, Jenkins had contemplated joining conflicts in Myanmar against the military junta and the Israeli Defence Forces, but ultimately selected Ukraine due to its accessibility via air travel. According to Lowe, who has resided in Russia for four years, the interview was conducted within a Russian maximum-security prison over the course of two days. Lowe indicated that he had attempted to conduct the interview for over a year and leveraged connections with government officials to facilitate the meeting for an upcoming documentary project. The ABC noted that it could not independently confirm the specific circumstances surrounding the interview or verify Lowe’s assertion that no conditions were imposed on the process.