Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement today that she had been told by Russian officials that Jenkins was still alive.

“The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody,” Wong said.

“We still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war,” she said.

“We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.

Wong said she had spoken directly to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

“If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier said he was urgently seeking confirmation Jenkins was alive.

“I am reticent to confirm that is the case, but certainly that is the statement that has been made by Russian authorities to our department,” Albanese told the ABC.

“We have received that information through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but we are seeking confirmation.”

Jenkins attended Melbourne Grammar School and played cricket for Toorak Prahran Cricket Club.

Before going to Ukraine, he had moved to China to work as lecturer in 2015.

Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said he too was working to verify Jenkin’s condition.

“I am working closely with the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to verify information on Oscar Jenkins,” Myroshnychenko said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said they were continuing to provide consular support to Jenkins’ family.