In short:
A video circulated on social media appears to show an Australian man being questioned by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
In the footage, the man identifies himself as 32-year-old Oscar Jenkins and says he is a biology teacher from Australia.
What's next?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the video as concerning and said the Australian embassy in Moscow and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials were investigating.
Australian officials have launched an urgent investigation after video emerged on social media of a Melbourne man who appears to have been captured by Russian forces in Ukraine.
The footage shows a man with his hands tied and dirt across his face being hit across the head as an unseen person questions him in Russian.
In response, the man identifies himself as 32-year-old Oscar Jenkins and, speaking in both English and Ukrainian, says he is a biology teacher who lives in Australia and Ukraine.
He was asked about why he was in Kramatorsk — almost 700 kilometres east of Kyiv — and if he was being paid to fight.
The video was first posted by pro-Moscow Russian Telegram channels on Sunday and the ABC has since independently verified Mr Jenkins' identity.
In the video, Mr Jenkins is asked if he is being paid to fight for Ukraine. (Telegram)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that the video was "concerning" and that the Australian embassy in Moscow and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) were investigating it.
"We are working through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide support including for this gentleman, trying to ascertain the details and the facts," he said.
"We know that the Russians often put out information that isn't right, so our embassy in Moscow is working but in addition to that Foreign Affairs and Trade are working here as well."
Unclear how many Australians fighting in Ukraine
Mr Jenkins grew up in Melbourne, where he attended the prestigious Melbourne Grammar School.
According to his LinkedIn, he is currently a lecturer at Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College in China, where he has worked since 2017.
It is unclear when he left China and arrived in Ukraine.
He is also a "much loved" member of the Toorak Prahran Cricket Club. President Neil Gumley told the ABC Mr Jenkins was a "very talented junior" who rose through the ranks to be a premiership player.
“Our thoughts at this stage are very much with his family and friends," he said.
In a short video posted to a YouTube channel that appears to be owned by Mr Jenkins, titled "I will force Chinese people to be vegan," he said: "The only people who are friends with me are vegans, if you're not vegan and you're my friend you're going to be vegan soon or we are going to fight."
At least seven Australians have been killed fighting in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022 and it is unclear how many more Australians remain on the front line.
The government is continuing to urge Australians not to travel to Ukraine or to join the war effort against Russia's invasion and the Smart Traveller advice level remains at "do not travel".
The ABC has contacted DFAT for comment.
