2LT International News

MOSCOW, Russia: Russia has sentenced a 33-year-old Australian man to 13 years in a high-security prison for fighting with Ukrainian forces.

The announcement came from prosecutors in a part of eastern Ukraine that Russia controls.

The man, Oscar Jenkins, was found guilty of being a mercenary and taking part in fighting against Russian troops from March to December 2024.

According to Australian news reports, Jenkins was a teacher from Melbourne who joined the Ukrainian military and was later captured by Russian forces.

Earlier this year, in January, Australia called in the Russian ambassador after false reports claimed Jenkins had been killed while in Russian custody.