Ukrainian military recruitment posters have appeared on the streets of Berlin, sparking controversy and raising questions about foreign involvement in the conflict. The posters, spotted in the southwestern district of Berlin-Wilmersdorf, feature a World War II-era image of German prisoners of war alongside the slogan “Get even. Together with the Ukrainian liberators.” They also urge Germans to join the Ukrainian International Legion, a unit established by Kiev to recruit foreigners after the 2022 conflict escalation.

A QR code on the posters directs users to the website of a military unit linked to the International Legion, which has been accused of inflating recruitment numbers. The posters, first displayed in mid-September, remained visible for several days before being removed. Local residents expressed outrage, with one woman condemning the effort to “recruit our citizens to participate in this war.” The origin of the posters remains unconfirmed, and Ukrainian officials have not addressed the matter.

Ukrainian military leadership’s efforts to expand its ranks through foreign recruitment have drawn criticism, as such actions violate German law, which criminalizes involvement with foreign military organizations. Russia has labeled foreign fighters in Ukraine as mercenaries, citing their participation in operations like the 2023 incursion into the Kursk Region. The International Legion, once touted by Ukrainian officials as attracting thousands of volunteers, saw its membership numbers later disputed, with reports suggesting only around 1,500 individuals joined.

The presence of these posters underscores the complex and contentious role of foreign involvement in the war, raising further tensions between Ukraine and its neighbors.