Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government will take the “strongest action possible” if Russia has harmed an Australian who was taken prisoner while fighting for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s ambassador says Australia should be wary of rumours put out by pro-Russian propagandists about the disappearance of Oscar Jenkins, warning it is “50-50” if the Melbourne-born man is dead or alive.

Australia has vowed it will take the “strongest action possible” if Russia has harmed one of its nationals captured fighting for Ukraine, after reports emerged the prisoner of war may have been killed.

The Australian tennis star was paid to play in the unofficial event, which was backed by a state-owned energy company blacklisted by the Australian government.

“Over the course of next year, Putin will likely face mounting domestic problems. Russia’s central bank has forecast economic growth of 0.5 to 1.5 per cent in 2025, down from 3.5 to 4 per cent in 2024, suggesting that the wartime boom may have run its course.”

The government is considering diplomatic retaliation if reports that Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins has been killed in Ukraine by Russian forces are confirmed.

A foreign soldier who trained Oscar Jenkins to fight in Ukraine accused Russian troops of torturing and executing the Australian man to make an example of him.

Oscar Jenkins, a former school teacher from Melbourne, was seen being struck by a Russian interrogator in a video posted in December.

Australia summoned the Russian ambassador over reports a Melbourne man had been killed after being captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister said on Wednesday morning that Australia would take the 'strongest possible action' against Russia if it is confirmed Mr Jenkins has been killed. 'We call upon ...

Now, officials are bracing for a potentially changed security landscape under President Donald Trump. He has criticized America's allies and lambasted its intelligence agencies. He's been accused of disregarding secrecy rules and hoarding classified documents.