“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.”

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

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

"There has been no transfer of the body (of Oscar Jenkins)," Ukraine's Ground Forces Command told a Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet Slidstvo.Info.

Australia said Wednesday that "all options are open" in its response to the reported killing of one of its citizens after his capture by Russian forces in Ukraine. Asked how Australia would react if the killing was confirmed,

We’ll await the facts to come out, but if there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, that’s absolutely reprehensible and the Australian government will take the strongest action possible,' says

Australia has summoned Russia’s ambassador to the country over reports that a Melbourne man was killed after being captured while fighting for Ukraine. Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that his government was “gravely concerned” about Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher, who was captured by Russian forces last year.

Canberra is making "urgent inquiries" about the status of Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins, a volunteer soldier captured by Russia in Ukraine, after unconfirmed reports of his death, the 7News outlet wrote on Jan.

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.

While total imports surged 14% to 543 million tons in 2024, Australian shipments recorded a whopping gain of nearly 60%, according to customs data on Monday. Exports from Mongolia were 19% higher. Indonesia remained China’s biggest supplier, although the increase last year was relatively modest.

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.