Australian officials believe Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins, who travelled to fight in defence of Ukraine, is alive and in Russian captivity, rather than dead as had been feared.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday Russia has reported Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody. The Australian man went to Ukraine to fight against Russia's invasion and was feared dead.

On 14 January, Australia summoned Russian ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky to answer questions about Mr Jenkins’s status. “The Russian Federation is obligated to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law,” a spokesperson said in a statement at the time.

Russian officials have confirmed Oscar Jenkins is alive, Penny Wong has said, ending nearly a month of uncertainty around the captured Australian fighter’s fate.

Oscar Jenkins went missing on Dec. 16 in 2024 while on a combat mission near the village of Mykolaivka in Luhansk Oblast.

The Australian government has been told by Moscow that one of its citizens in Russian captivity is still alive. Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher, was captured last year while fighting for Ukraine.

Australian Oscar Jenkins is alive as a prisoner of war in Russian territory and his welfare is "normal", according to Russia's ambassador after execution fears.