The Russian Embassy in Seoul has canceled a public event to mark Defender of the Fatherland Day on the fourth anniversary of Russia's war with Ukraine. The decision follows controversy over a banner reading 'Victory will be ours' displayed on the embassy building. South Korean civic activists staged a protest outside the embassy.
On February 24, 2026, the Russian Embassy in Seoul's Jung District canceled a planned public event to commemorate Defender of the Fatherland Day, converting it into an internal gathering. The date coincides with the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The embassy recently sparked controversy by hanging a 15-meter banner on its exterior wall reading 'Victory will be ours' in Russian, a phrase from World War II that critics say evokes the ongoing war in Ukraine. South Korean citizens and several European diplomatic missions in Seoul called for its removal.
The embassy defended the banner as part of Defender of the Fatherland Day celebrations, aimed at fostering bonds among Russians, and stated it would be taken down after the events. The exact reason for canceling the public event remains unclear, though it is seen by some as a reaction to negative public sentiment.
Chris Monday, an economics professor at Dongseo University in Busan and a Russia expert, analyzed the incident in an email interview with The Korea Times. 'Intimidation and veiled threats are integral to Putin’s playbook,' he said, linking it to Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy. Monday noted that following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration in late 2024, the Kremlin views South Korea as politically vulnerable and seeks to pressure it into neutrality on Ukraine, deterring arms supplies or troop involvement.
Despite the cancellation, Hong Jeong-sik, head of the civic group Hwalbindan, held a one-person protest outside the embassy. He carried a sign reading 'Stop Putin. Stop War' and chanted slogans including 'Take down the ugly banner' and 'The Republic of Korea opposes war.' Some Russians also joined the demonstration.
The episode reflects Russia's broader efforts to bolster ties with North Korea, promoting narratives of shared history amid the Ukraine conflict.
