SEOUL – South Korean officials are calling on Russia’s diplomatic mission in Seoul to remove a massive banner proclaiming “Victory will be ours” as Tuesday marks four years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.
The South Korean foreign ministry issued a statement Sunday confirming they had expressed their objections to the embassy regarding the display, though officials did not indicate whether Russian diplomats had responded to their request.
Measuring approximately 49 feet in length and featuring Russian flag colors with text written in Russian, the banner was mounted on the embassy’s exterior wall in downtown Seoul. As of Monday, the controversial display remained visible.
In their official statement, ministry officials restated South Korea’s stance that Russia’s military actions against Ukraine violate international law.
The ministry further emphasized that the military partnership between Russia and North Korea must end, calling it a serious danger to South Korean national security and a breach of both the United Nations Charter and Security Council resolutions.
This month, Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev publicly commended North Korean forces for their combat role in Russia’s Kursk region, according to news reports.
Following a mutual defense agreement signed in 2024, North Korea deployed approximately 14,000 troops to support Russian forces in their conflict with Ukraine. South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western intelligence sources report that over 6,000 of these North Korean soldiers have been killed in action.
Attempts to contact the Russian embassy in Seoul for their response were unsuccessful. An automated phone message indicated the embassy was closed Monday due to a public holiday.
