InterviewRussian Embassy banner mirrors Kremlin playbook for intimidation
A giant banner on the Embassy of Russia in Seoul reads "Victory will be ours." Yonhap
The Embassy of Russia in Seoul has drawn the ire of many South Koreans over a controversial banner displayed on its building. The 15-meter banner, written in Russian and translated into English as “Victory will be ours,” was installed despite mounting calls from South Korean citizens and several European diplomatic missions in Seoul to remove it.
The embassy has refused to back down, stating that the banner was put up to commemorate “Defender of the Fatherland Day.” It argued that other diplomatic missions also display banners and promotional materials on their premises and maintained that the banner helps strengthen bonds among Russians. The embassy said it would take the banner down once the celebrations are over. There was initially an event to celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day scheduled for Tuesday, but the embassy cancelled it.
Chris Monday, an economics professor at Dongseo University in Busan, said the embassy banner reflects Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader political strategy. “Intimidation and veiled threats are integral to Putin’s playbook,” he said. “After the failed declaration of martial law in Korea, the Kremlin views South Korea as divided. Putin believes he can manipulate South Korean society.”
He added that Russia has sought to pressure South Korea to remain neutral in the war in Ukraine.
Monday, a Russia expert who lived in the country from 1996 to 2004 and earned his doctorate from Saint Petersburg State University, joined The Korea Times for an email Q&A.
Q: Why did the Russian Embassy install the banner?
A: The banner marks Defender of the Fatherland Day. Originally, the holiday commemorated Leon Trotsky’s Red Army. Under Joseph Stalin, its origins were obscured. In recent years, it became something of a kitschy counterpart to International Women’s Day on March 8. On Feb. 23, women would give small gifts to their boyfriends, anticipating more elaborate celebrations on March 8.
Q: Does the phrase “Victory will be ours” carry political implications?
A: Much of this ties into Putin’s gender politics. Since the invasion of Ukraine, the holiday has taken on a more somber tone. Kremlin propaganda links the war in Ukraine to World War II, and the slogan “Victory will be ours” echoes the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany.
Q: What message is Russia trying to convey with the banner?
A: Intimidation and veiled threats are central to Putin’s playbook. After the failed martial law declaration, the Kremlin sees South Korea as politically divided and believes it can exploit those divisions.
Q: Is the embassy targeting any specific country or group with this message?
A: The message is aimed at South Korea. Russia is warning Seoul against participating in NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), particularly in terms of supplying arms to Ukraine. In Putin’s view, Russia has successfully deterred South Korea from sending large quantities of weapons to Ukraine or deploying South Korean troops to Kursk in response to North Korean involvement.
Q: What are the implications of this incident for South Korea?
A: This reflects the Kremlin’s effort to support North Korea. Over the past year, Russia and North Korea have promoted narratives of past “joint victories,” though North Korea rarely references World War II or the Nazis and has largely removed mention of the Soviet Union from its accounts of the Korean War. In recent North Korean propaganda, references to Ukraine are limited and vague. The embassy’s banner may be an attempt to curry favor with North Korea and reinforce bilateral ties.