South Korea has protested to Russia after its embassy in Seoul unfurled a giant banner declaring “Victory will be ours”, an apparent reference to the anniversary of the Ukraine war.

South Korea opposes Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its recruitment of soldiers from North Korea, with which Seoul remains technically at war.

The red, white and blue banner, written in Russian, was first spotted over the weekend and remained in place at the embassy on Monday morning.

Its appearance has coincided with the four-year anniversary of the Ukraine war, which falls on Tuesday.

“The South Korean government has consistently maintained the position that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an illegal act,” Seoul’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

“In this context, we have conveyed our position to the Russian side regarding the recent display of a banner on the outer walls of the Russian Embassy in Seoul and public remarks made by the Russian Ambassador to South Korea.”