South Korea urges removal of 'victory' banner hanging from Russian embassy in Seoul

A “Victory will be ours” banner was hung on the Russian Embassy in Seoul, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It remains on display despite a request from the South Korean Foreign Ministry on Sunday (22 February) for its removal, sparking widespread criticism.

It reads “Победа будет за нами” ("Victory will be ours") and has been displayed in Seoul’s Jung-gu district since Sunday.

The 15-metre banner, set against a Russian tricolour backdrop, was described by local media as reminiscent of Soviet-era slogans and has been widely used in Russia in recent times.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it had requested the embassy to remove the banner and expressed its concerns. The Ministry described Russia’s public display of its stance on what South Korea views as an illegal war violating the United Nations Charter as unacceptable.

The embassy has reportedly not responded.

Officials also warned that displaying such messages on the embassy building could inflame public sentiment and harm bilateral relations, noting that Ukraine also maintains a diplomatic mission in Seoul.

Tensions between Russia and South Korea had risen after Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev publicly praised North Korean troops’ role in the Ukraine war during a briefing with South Korean journalists on 11 February.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described both the banner and the ambassador’s remarks as “clearly excessive”.

The Ministry noted that while the Vienna Convention prevents forcible removal of embassy property, such actions could inflame public sentiment and strain relations, particularly with the Ukrainian Embassy also in Seoul.

Last year, the Russian Embassy held a pro-war rally on the third anniversary of the invasion, and authorities are reportedly planning a similar rally on 24 February.

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