Headlines
South Korea urges Russian embassy to remove 'victory' banner as Ukraine war anniversary nears
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 23, 2026
Tags:security
Quick Summary
South Korea asked the Russian embassy in Seoul to remove a “Victory will be ours” banner before the Ukraine war’s fourth anniversary on Feb 24, 2026, calling the invasion illegal and warning against Russia–North Korea military cooperation.
Seoul Urges Russian Embassy to Remove 'Victory' Banner Before Anniversary
Diplomatic Dispute Over Embassy Banner
SEOUL, Feb 23 (Reuters) - South Korea has asked the Russian embassy in Seoul to take down a large banner reading "Victory will be ours", its foreign ministry said, just ahead of this week's fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine.
South Korea’s Formal Request
The ministry said in a statement on Sunday that it had conveyed its concerns to the embassy without clarifying whether it had received a response.
Banner Details and Timing
The roughly 15-metre (49.21 ft) banner, in the colours of the Russian flag and written in Russian, was hung on the embassy's outer wall in central Seoul ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday.
The banner remained in place on Monday.
Seoul’s Stance on the War
In its statement, the ministry reiterated South Korea's position that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is illegal.
Concerns Over Russia–North Korea Ties
The ministry also said that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea should stop, describing it as a grave threat to South Korea's security and a violation of the U.N. Charter and U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Ambassador’s Remarks on Kursk
Earlier this month, Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev praised what he described as North Korean troops' role in fighting in Russia's Kursk region, according to media reports.
Casualty Figures Claimed
Under a mutual defence pact with Russia in 2024, North Korea sent some 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops against Ukraine, where more than 6,000 of them were killed, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western sources.
Embassy Response and Availability
The Russian embassy in Seoul could not immediately be reached for comment by phone. An automated voice message stated the embassy was closed due to a public holiday on Monday.
Reporting and Credits
(Reporting by Kyu-seok ShimEditing by Ed Davies and Saad Sayeed)
Key Takeaways
- •South Korea urged the Russian embassy in Seoul to remove a large “Victory will be ours” banner.
- •The roughly 15‑metre banner in Russian flag colors remained up as of Monday, Feb 23, 2026.
- •The request comes ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026.
- •Seoul reiterated its view that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal under the U.N. Charter.
- •South Korea warned that Russia–North Korea military cooperation is a grave security threat and violates U.N. resolutions.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Korea urges Russian embassy to remove 'victory' banner as Ukraine war anniversary nears
1What is the main topic?
South Korea has asked the Russian embassy in Seoul to remove a large banner reading “Victory will be ours” ahead of the Ukraine war’s fourth anniversary, citing diplomatic concerns.
2Why is the banner controversial?
Officials say the slogan is tied to Russia’s war narrative and, displayed in Seoul, risks provoking public sentiment and diplomatic tensions as South Korea opposes the invasion of Ukraine.
3How does this relate to Russia–North Korea ties?
Seoul also condemned growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, calling it a grave security threat and a violation of the U.N. Charter and Security Council resolutions.
