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.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to take decisive measures if harm has been inflicted on Oscar Jenkins, a Melbourne school teacher captured while fighting for Ukraine. Disturbing video footage from December shows Jenkins being interrogated by Russian forces.

There are fears an Australian man captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine has been executed. Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, was reportedly captured in the Donbas region.

The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Iranian counterpart President Masoud Pezeshkian this week for the signing of a broad partnership pact between Moscow and Tehran.

Russia is poised to sign a “comprehensive strategy partnership” with Iran in a further strengthening of an authoritarian axis of evil.