Australia contacts Russia over man captured fighting in Ukraine

SYDNEY: Australia's prime minister said on Tuesday his government is working to secure a "positive outcome" after a video emerged of an Australian man captured by Russian forces in Ukraine.
In video footage that first emerged online on Sunday, the man is seen with his hands tied and being slapped across the face by a man speaking Russian.
The man said he was a biology teacher named Oscar Jenkins and that he had joined the armed forces because he wanted to help Ukraine. Australian media verified the man's identity.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters his office had made "appropriate representations" with Russian officials.

"Our Australian embassy in Moscow has also made representations to secure a positive outcome," he said.
A diplomatic source told Australia's national broadcaster ABC that the government believed the video was legitimate and was working to determine when it was filmed.
Acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus urged the Russian government to "fully adhere to its obligations under

international humanitarian law

, including with respect to prisoners of war".

"Our immediate priority is understanding where Mr Jenkins is and confirming his wellbeing," Dreyfus said.
He said his department was providing support to Jenkins' family and urged Australians not to travel to Ukraine.
Ukrainian-born Kateryna Argyrou, who runs the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said she felt "sick" when she saw the video of Jenkins.
"I was also surprised and touched to hear him speaking Ukrainian," she told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
"He'd really made an effort to learn the language. He wasn't afraid to say all he wanted to do was help Ukraine. We need to bring him home. He's one of our own."