**No Evidence of Australian Volunteer’s Execution by Russia**
A Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet has found that there is no evidence to confirm the execution of Australian volunteer soldier Oscar Jenkins. Slidstvo.Info reported on January 17, citing the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, was captured in December while serving with Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade. His body was believed to have been found and he was thought to have been executed by Russian captors.
However, Slidstvo.Info verified that footage showing the bodies of soldiers, which claimed Jenkins was among them, was actually published four years ago on an Iranian website. The video was filmed in Nagorno-Karabakh, not Ukraine, and is in Armenian, not Russian.
The Kyiv Independent has contacted the Australian Embassy in Kyiv and Ukrainian authorities but has yet to receive a response.
**Russian Actions Condemned**
Russia’s actions are being condemned by the international community. The Geneva Conventions mandate that all warring parties treat prisoners of war with respect and dignity. Executing POWs is considered a gross violation of international law and a war crime.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has pledged to take “strongest action possible” if reports of Jenkins’ execution are confirmed. Russia has been accused of summarily executing Ukrainian POWs throughout the war.
**Other Developments**
Russia launched a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on January 17, resulting in the deaths of four people and leaving at least three others injured.
The United States assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that it would not deploy nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The US has also provided new aid to Ukraine, including modern weaponry to help Ukrainian soldiers deliver powerful strikes against the enemy.
Ukrainian forces downed 33 out of 50 drones launched by Russia overnight, and another nine were “lost”. One drone flew in the direction of Romania.
The NATO Military Committee Chief announced that the alliance has taken over some responsibilities in coordinating aid for Ukraine from the US.