Ukraine war briefing: Russian embassy raises ‘victory will be ours’ banner over Seoul embassy, drawing complaints
#Ukraine War #Russian Embassy #EU Sanctions #Nuclear Forces #Oil Pipeline #Drone Attacks #Energy Infrastructure #Diplomatic Protests
📌 Key Takeaways
- South Korea protested Russian embassy banner referencing Ukraine war victory
- Hungary blocking EU sanctions against Russia over oil pipeline dispute
- Putin prioritizes nuclear forces after US-Russia arms control treaty expired
- Ukraine and Russia exchange attacks causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage
📖 Full Retelling
South Korea's foreign ministry expressed concerns to the Russian embassy in Seoul on Sunday, February 23, 2026, about a banner reading 'victory will be ours' hung over the embassy building, which was widely seen as a reference to Russia's war in Ukraine on day 1,461 of the conflict, as Hungary simultaneously announced it would block the EU's next sanctions package against Russia unless Ukraine resumed Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline. The diplomatic tensions escalated as Ukraine condemned what it described as 'ultimatums and blackmail' by Hungary and Slovakia after both countries threatened to stop electricity supplies unless Kyiv restarted the Russian oil flows. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the development of Russia's nuclear forces as an 'absolute priority' following the expiration of the New Start treaty with the US, vowing to continue strengthening military forces and drawing on experience from the Ukraine conflict. In western Ukraine, Lviv witnessed a terrorist attack when several explosive devices detonated at midnight, killing a police officer and wounding 24 people, with President Zelenskyy directly blaming Russia for the incident. The conflict continued with intense military actions as Russia launched a massive wave of strikes against Ukraine, with Zelenskyy reporting 297 drones and nearly 50 missiles fired on Sunday, though 'a significant proportion' were intercepted. In response, Ukraine inflicted serious damage on energy infrastructure in Russia's Belgorod region, disrupting power, heat, and water supplies. The attacks also affected Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, with power restored in most of Zaporizhzhia after Ukrainian strikes, and a fuel reservoir catching fire in Luhansk following a drone attack. Additionally, four Moscow airports briefly suspended operations before resuming flights after Russian air defenses downed 71 Ukrainian drones approaching the capital.
🏷️ Themes
Diplomatic Tensions, Military Escalation, Energy Disputes, Nuclear Posturing
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Russia
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Mentioned Entities
Original Source
Explainer Ukraine war briefing: Russian embassy raises ‘victory will be ours’ banner over Seoul embassy, drawing complaints Message seen as reference to Ukraine war could create unnecessary tensions, says Seoul; Hungary to block new EU sanctions against Russia amid oil feud. What we know on day 1,461 South Korea’s foreign ministry has expressed concerns to the Russian embassy in Seoul over a large banner hung over its building that reads “victory will be ours” in Russian , the Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday, citing officials. The ministry noted the unnecessary tensions the banner could create with South Korean citizens and other countries as it was widely seen as a reference to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the report said. The Russian embassy had yet to remove the banner of the message, which the Soviet Union used during the second world war. Hungary will block the EU’s next package of sanctions against Russia, the country’s foreign minister has said, in the latest step aimed at pushing Ukraine to resume the flow of Russian oil through a pipeline supplying Hungarian refineries. The EU is currently preparing a package against Russia over the war in Ukraine and while negotiations are ongoing, many member countries would like to agree the package in time for the fourth anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday. “At tomorrow’s Foreign Affairs Council, the EU aims to adopt the 20th sanctions package. Hungary will block it,” Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister, said on X on Sunday. “Until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline , we will not allow decisions important to Kyiv to move forward.” Ukraine condemned what it described as “ultimatums and blackmail” by Hungary and Slovakia at the weekend after both governments threatened to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv restarted the Russian oil flows. Vladimir Putin has said developing Russia’s nuclear forces is now an absolute priority after the ex...
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