Russian embassy in Seoul hangs 'Victory will be ours' banner and refuses to remove it
Feb 22nd 2026
A roughly 15 metre banner reading "Victory will be ours" appeared on the Russian embassy in Seoul on the morning of 21 February ahead of the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. South Korea has asked Moscow to take it down but the embassy refused, and Seoul says it cannot remove the banner by force under the Vienna Convention.
- The banner appeared on the embassy building on 21 February and features a Russian flag and the slogan "Victory will be ours".
- South Korea formally requested that Russia remove the banner but the Russian embassy declined to do so.
- Seoul says it cannot forcibly remove the banner because the Vienna Convention protects the inviolability of diplomatic missions.
- Diplomatic representatives in South Korea, including European envoys, have expressed concern to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
- The Foreign Ministry called the banner and recent statements by the Russian ambassador praising North Korean troops "clearly excessive" and warned they could provoke the public and harm bilateral ties.
- Russia held a pro-war demonstration in Seoul on the third anniversary and is reported to be planning a similar event for the fourth anniversary.