Z (military symbol)

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"Z symbol" redirects here. For other uses, see Z (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Wolfsangel.
"Z" symbol
"Z" symbol
"Z" symbol (enclosed in square)
"Z" symbol (enclosed in square)
"V" symbol
"V" symbol
"O" symbol
"O" symbol
Four of the most commonly seen symbols used on Russian military vehicles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Latin-script letter Z (Russian: зет) is one of several symbols painted on military vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces involved in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, speculated to help task forces distinguish themselves from other allied or enemy forces.[1][2]

As a pro-war symbol, the "Z" has been used by the Russian government as a propaganda tool,[9] and by Russian civilians as a sign of support for the invasion. Outside Russia, the government of the Czech Republic has classified the "Z" symbol as an equivalent to the swastika,[10] and Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan laws prohibit publicly displaying the "Z" symbol on vehicles.[15]

Symbols[edit]

The following symbols and corresponding meanings have been used by the Russian Armed Forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine:[16]

The invasion has acquired the nickname "Operation Z", derived from the "Z" symbol.[20] The symbol is in the form of the Latin letter Z, instead of the equivalent Cyrillic letter З (Ze) used in the Russian alphabet, which has been described as peculiar, considering the symbol's theme of Russian nationalism.[21]

Meanings[edit]

The "Z" has been used as a pro-war symbol to represent support for the invasion despite the ambiguity of its meaning.[22][23]

On Instagram, the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) posted on 3 March that the "Z" symbol is an abbreviation of the phrase "for victory" (Russian: за победу, romanized: za pobedu), while the "V" symbol stands for "Our strength is in truth" (Russian: сила в правде, romanized: sila v pravde) and "The task will be completed" (Russian: задача будет выполнена, romanized: zadacha budet vypolnena).[24][25][26] The MoD later suggested alternative meanings for "Z", including "For peace" (Russian: за мир, romanized: za mir), "For truth" (Russian: за правду, romanized: za pravdu), and the letter Z inside the English words demilitarization and denazification, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted to be the purpose of the invasion.[27][28]

Another interpretation for "Z" is the Russian word for west (Russian: запад, romanized: zapad), to designate the Western Military District or west-bound infantry, or more generally to underline the Kremlin's imperial ambitions, with the "V" symbol similarly standing for the word for east (Russian: восток, romanized: vostok).[29][30][31] This term was used in the joint 2021 Zapad exercise [ru; uk; pl] between Belarus and Russia before the invasion.[citation needed]

Usage[edit]

Military use[edit]

T-72 B3M with "Z"
T-72B3M tank with "Z"
BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher with "Z"
BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launcher with "Z"
Ural truck with "Z"
Ural truck with "Z"
BMD-4M infantry fighting vehicle with "V"
BMD-4M infantry fighting vehicle with "V"
Mi-8AMTSh helicopter with "V"
Mi-8AMTSh helicopter with "V"
MT-LB armored personnel carrier with "O"
MT-LB armored personnel carrier with "O"
Military vehicles marked with symbols during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine

Some military experts have hypothesized that the symbols are identifying marks used to reduce friendly fire, and have compared the symbols to invasion stripes used in the Normandy landings during World War II.[2][32] Other military experts have predicted that the symbols are used to help distinguish different task forces from one another, with former Royal United Services Institute director Michael Clarke saying that "often these symbols will be location-based: they will communicate where the unit is going" and pointing to the American military's use of chevrons during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[33] The latter theory was confirmed by Russian veteran Sergey Kuvykin, who indicated that symbols including "a 'Z' in a square, a 'Z' in a circle, a 'Z' with a star or simply 'Z' on its own" have been used to tell teams apart, in an interview with Life.[34]

Russian vehicles along the Russia–Ukraine border displayed the "Z" symbol during the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis in the weeks before the invasion.[35] During the Battle of Kharkiv, local residents used the "Z" symbols to identify Russian vehicles and track their locations on Telegram.[36]

Use as a pro-war symbol[edit]

"Z" in the colors of the Ribbon of Saint George, used in propaganda with the hashtag #СвоихНеБросаем ("We don't abandon our own")[21]
Russian Ministry of Defence propaganda poster featuring the "V" symbol in the motto "Our strength is in truth"

The "Z" has been used by the Russian government as a pro-war propaganda motif,[9] and has been appropriated by pro-Putin civilians as a symbol of support for Russia's invasion.[30][37] Governor Sergey Tsivilyov of Kuzbass (Russian: Кузбасс) changed the name of the region to a hybrid word that replaced the lowercase Cyrillic letter з with the capital Latin letter Z (Russian: КуZбасс, romanized: KuZbass).[38][39] The Roscosmos director general, Dmitry Rogozin, began spelling his surname as RogoZin (Russian: РогоZин),[7][40] and ordered employees at the Russia-managed Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to mark equipment with the "Z" and "V" symbols.[41] Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels have incorporated the letter Z in their names since the beginning of the invasion,[42] and Russian telecom authority Roskomnadzor changed the handle of its Telegram channel to showcase the "Z" in its name.[43] Russian government agencies have also promoted the "Z" symbol in nationalist messages and videos on VK.[44] Syrian soldiers contracted by Russia to join the invasion raised "Z" symbol posters while cheering in videos aired by Russian state media.[45]

Residents of Khabarovsk, including Young Guard of United Russia members, arranged in "Z" formation in a flash mob at the Platinum Arena, organized by the city administration and the United Russia party as part of the "We don't abandon our own" campaign
Residents of Khabarovsk, including Young Guard of United Russia members, arranged in "Z" formation in a flash mob at the Platinum Arena, organized by the city administration and the United Russia party as part of the "We don't abandon our own" campaign[46]

Local authorities in several parts of Russia have organized flash mobs in support of the invasion prominently featuring the symbol.[47] On social media, propaganda videos have been shared depicting flash mobs consisting of pro-war youth activists wearing black shirts decorated with the "Z" symbol and shouting, "For Russia, for Putin!", alongside the #СвоихНеБросаем (transl. #WeDon'tAbandonOurOwn) hashtag.[48][49] In a social media video, State Duma member Maria Butina drew a "Z" on her jacket to show support for the invasion and encouraged others to do so as well.[50] Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT has sold merchandise featuring the symbol as a show of support for Russian forces, often with a texture taken from the Ribbon of Saint George.[47] Amazon sold "Z" symbol products in the UK,[11] but took down the listings on 8 March after receiving public criticism and media inquiries.[51][52]

Anti-war activists in Russia have seen their property defaced with graffiti containing the "Z" symbol. Russian film critic Anton Dolin, whose door was marked with the symbol, compared the "Z" to the zombie action-horror film World War Z (2013) and described the Russian army and pro-war activists as "zombified".[53] Police officers left "Z" markings while ransacking the building of the human rights organization Memorial after its government-mandated shutdown.[54] The apartment of a member of Pussy Riot – a protest art collective – has also been vandalized with the symbol.[54][55]

Reception[edit]

Kamil Galeev of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars said on 7 March that the "symbol invented just a few days ago became a symbol of new Russian ideology and national identity."[56] A number of critics have described the "Z" as a variant of Nazi symbolism,[29][57] with some comparing it to the swastika;[8][58] the symbol has been pejoratively nicknamed by some Internet users as the zwastika.[59] Also on 7 March, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov condemned the use of the "Z" symbol, noting its resemblance to the name of the Station Z gas chamber of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.[60]

International responses[edit]

States[edit]

  •  Czech Republic – The Ministry of the Interior has instructed police officers to consider the "Z" symbol an equivalent to the swastika, as part of a ban on publicly supporting the invasion.[10][11]
  •  Kazakhstan – The military symbols are prohibited from being shown on vehicles in public, with the WKO Police Department explicitly stating that the "Z", "V", and "O" symbols are not allowed. The fine for a violation is 15,315 tenge (US$40.01).[12][13][14]
  •  Kyrgyzstan – Police departments have restricted the "Z" symbol from being displayed on vehicles in public.[11]

Organizations[edit]

While participating in the 2022 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series during the invasion, Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak wore a shirt with a taped-on "Z" symbol while standing beside Ukrainian gymnast Illia Kovtun on the podium. Kovtun won the gold medal, while Kuliak won the bronze. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) denounced Kuliak's "shocking behaviour" and stated that it would request "disciplinary proceedings" against Kuliak from the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation. On 7 March, the FIG banned Russian and Belarusian gymnasts and officials from taking part in its competitions.[61][62]

The fictional character Zorro has associations with the display of the letter Z which predate the war. Zorro is a vigilante who fights for common people; a character hallmark is that he carves a Z into things with his rapier. On 22 March 2022, Zorro Productions, Inc. issued the following statement: "Zorro Productions, Inc. is aware of the appearance of a 'Z' on Russian military vehicles in its war upon Ukraine. We condemn any association between Vladimir Putin’s senseless war and the character. Zorro and his 'Z' have represented the pursuit of justice and defense of the persecuted throughout his 100-year history. Zorro stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and all those seeking justice."[63][64]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  63. ^ "Zorro statement". Zorro.com. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  64. ^ https://elzorro.net/en/protest-against-using-the-zorro-sign-the-letter-z-in-russian-war-propaganda/
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