how the ‘Z’ became the symbol of support for Russian forces

Since February 24 and the beginning of the invasion in Ukraine, it is a letter that appears here and there recurrently in the theater of military operations. Many observers have seen this “Z” painted in white paint on Russian armored vehicles entering Ukraine without being able to determine its exact meaning.

However, it is not uncommon to see such markings on military equipment to help distinguish them better. The American army, for example, painted chevrons on its tanks during the invasion of Iraq. This is also one of the first attempts to explain the meaning of this letter “Z”. An anonymous military source notably told the English tabloid The Sun it was ” crucial that any attacking force can be distinguished, especially from the air where Russian forces now have full control. The Ukrainians have very similar tanks and vehicles. »

” For victory “

But other letters have also been noticed on Russian tanks such as the “V” and the “O”. According to Michael Clarke, former director of the British think tank RUSI, these symbols could be based on the location and indicate the geographical objective of each unit. ” If they only served to distinguish which are Russian vehicles from others, the use of a single symbol would suffice, he told sky news. These are probably symbols that determine in which direction each unit moves, for example northeast or northwest. A supposition supported by the staff of the Ukrainian army, who posted on Twitter a document listing the various letters used by the Russian army on its vehicles and the geographical direction which would be associated with them.

Other interpretations of these letters have also been advanced. They could, according to some, refer to ukrainian president and the initials of his full name: Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky. But it was ultimately the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, who put an end to the suspense on Sunday by affirming that this “Z” came from the preposition “Za” which is found in the sentence “Za pobedu” which means “For Victory” in Russian. The information remains to be taken with precaution, however, because the meaning of the other letters has not been explained.

The “Z” is spreading in civil society

Still, if the use of “Z” first began in military theatres, it has been spreading for several days in Russian civil society, where many people proudly display this symbol on social networks but also in the public space. On Twitter, researcher at the Wilson Center in Washington, Kamil Galeev, reports that vehicles displaying the letter “Z” on their windshields in Russian cities are increasingly common, many are also displayed with t-shirts bearing the symbol. Others also add a “Z” in their name on social media to show their support for the war in Ukraine.

Recently, it was Ivan Kuliak who sparked controversy at the Gymnastics World Cup in Doha. The Russian gymnast who placed third in the parallel bars event competed with a “Z” displayed on his leotard. On the podium, he appeared alongside the Ukrainian Ilia Kovtun, gold medalist. Despite an investigation opened by the International Gymnastics Federation, the 20-year-old athlete received the support of Vassili Titov, the president of the Russian federation.

A propaganda tool for the Kremlin?

Because this symbol of support for the Russian forces seems to be becoming a real propaganda tool for the Putin regime. On his Instagram pages and Telegram, the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, even went so far as to break down the letter into several messages: “Za pobedu” (“for victory”), “Za mir” (“for peace”), “Za pravdu” (“for the truth”), “Za rossiïou” (“for Russia”), associated with images revealing a communication campaign aimed at the general public. Local media also published a photo taken from the sky of about sixty sick children, their families and caregivers forming a “Z” in the snowy courtyard of their hospice located in Kazan, Tatarstan.

Maria Butina, who was deported from the United States in 2019 – after being convicted of acts of espionage – symbolizes the dynamic that surrounds this acronym “Z”. The Instagram feed of this 33-year-old young woman, elected deputy to the Duma in October 2021 under the colors of Putin’s party, is filled with photos showing her wearing a black t-shirt with a white “Z” from on February 27, three days after the start of the war. In a videostill dressed in her black T-shirt, she says: “ Do your job guys! We will always be behind you! “.

The “Z”, which now appears massively in public space, has thus become a symbol of loyalty and allegiance to the Kremlin. From politicians to celebrities, including some influencers, everyone wants to appear with their “Z”. In a Russian society where freedom of expression and of the press are reduced a little more every day, who knows if not wearing this symbol will not soon be considered a sign of disloyalty to the regime of Vladimir Putin.