<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian man </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-advocating-for-melbourne-man-oscar-jenkins/69f923a9-99f8-4d8c-a749-c0ac45b86a67" rel="" target="_blank" title="Oscar Jenkins"><span>Oscar Jenkins</span></a><span> has been sentenced to 13 years in a Russian prison for fighting in Ukraine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Russian prosecutors said today that Jenkins, 33, was paid around $15,000 a month to fight in Ukraine after he travelled from Melbourne to fight in the war against Russia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was filmed in the courtroom today as guards released him from his handcuffs and put him behind a glass wall for court proceedings.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/escaped-detainee-charged-after-allegedly-attacking-border-force-agents/5bdd1665-2c87-4155-9d90-0e994008b4a8"><strong><span>Escaped detainee arrested after allegedly attacking Border Force officials</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He briefly glanced at the camera before he heard his sentence of 13 years behind bars in a Russian prison.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jenkins was taken into Russian custody in December last year. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was captured in occupied eastern Ukraine and the Australian government has been calling for his release since.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/oscar-jenkins-australian-sentenced-to-13-years-in-russian-prison-for-fighting-in-ukraine/d18e4c72-5592-41ac-a79a-0b5766449b3a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One significant issue Jenkins is facing is that he is not being treated as a prisoner of war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rockingham-gang-shooting-senior-gang-member-shot-left-for-dead-outside-wa-hospital/1feadb44-07ee-45a4-9f35-a0d7ca20e36f" rel="" target="_blank" title=" Senior bikie left for dead after attempt to burn off his tattoos when he tries to leave gang"><strong><span>Senior bikie left for dead after attempt to burn off his tattoos when he tries to leave gang</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead, Russian authorities have called him a mercenary because he travelled from overseas to work alongside Ukrainian forces.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the months since he was captured, there have been increasing concerns about his welfare. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At one point, there were false reports that he had been killed, until video surfaced of Jenkins looking frail and being taken into Russian captivity.</span></div></div>