Russian embassy in Seoul hangs up banner glorifying war against Ukraine and refuses to take it down, Korean media reports

A banner reading "Victory will be ours" has appeared on the Russian embassy building in Seoul ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The South Korean government has asked Moscow to remove it, but Russia has refused.

Source: Chosun (Korean media outlet)

Details: The roughly 15‑metre-long banner, which features a Russian flag and the slogan "Victory will be ours", appeared on the embassy building on the morning of 21 February.

Criticism is mounting in diplomatic circles in Seoul, since "displaying a phrase declaring victory in an invasion war in the heart of another country is a significant deviation from diplomatic conventions".

Diplomatic representatives in South Korea, including those from European countries, have expressed concern about the banner to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Moreover, Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev stated at a press conference at the embassy on 11 February: "Russia is not unaware of how much North Korean troops contributed to liberating the southern part of the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces and Western mercenaries," adding, "We will not forget the greatness of the North Korean troops."

The South Korean government warned that the banner and the ambassador's statements are "clearly excessive". The Foreign Ministry recently stated: "Russia, which has violated the UN Charter, cannot be tolerated for publicly expressing its stance on an illegal war on the walls of its embassy."

The ministry pointed out that placing such messages on the embassy building could provoke the South Korean public and adversely affect relations between South Korea and Russia. Since there is also a Ukrainian embassy in Seoul, there are concerns that this may create unnecessary diplomatic tension.

The ministry has demanded that the banner be removed, but the Russian embassy has refused to do this. The South Korean government cannot remove it by force due to the Vienna Convention, which guarantees the inviolability of diplomatic missions.

Chosun noted that on 24 February last year, the third anniversary of the invasion, Russia held a demonstration in Seoul to express support for the war against Ukraine featuring a large national flag. The Russian embassy in South Korea is reported to be planning a similar event for the fourth anniversary.

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