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{{Commons|Category:2022 Russian Invasion vehicle markings|2022 Russian invasion vehicle markings}}
{{Commons|Category:2022 Russian Invasion vehicle markings|2022 Russian invasion vehicle markings}}
* [[List of symbols]]
* [[List of symbols]]
* [[List of symbols designated by the Anti-Defamation League as hate symbols]]


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{{clear}}

Revision as of 16:37, 8 March 2022

"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 symbols used on Russian military vehicles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

"Z" is one of several symbols painted on military vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces (nicknamed "z-cars" hence the logo) involved in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The symbol has been used in Russian popular culture as a sign of support for the invasion. Displaying any of the symbols on vehicles in public is illegal in Kazakhstan.[1][2]

Symbols

Armed Forces of Ukraine guide to Russian military symbols
Armed Forces of Ukraine guide to Russian military symbols used in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the following symbols and corresponding meanings have been used by the Russian Armed Forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine:[3]

The invasion has acquired the nickname "Operation Z", derived from the "Z" symbol.[4] Notably, the symbol is in the form of the Latin letter Z, instead of the Cyrillic letter З.[5]

Meanings

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" [ru] (Russian: сила в правде, romanized: sila v pravde) and "the task will be completed" (Russian: задача будет выполнена, romanized: zadacha budet vypolnena).[6][7][8] 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.[9]

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.[10][11][12] This term was used in the Zapad joint military exercises between Belarus and Russia before the invasion.

Usage

Military use

Russian tank (left), armored personnel carrier (center) and truck (right) with "Z" markings during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the "Z" symbol means "for victory".[6][7] 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.[13][14] 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.[15]

Use as a pro-war symbol

The "Z" has been appropriated by pro-Vladimir Putin, pro-war civilians as a symbol of support for Russia's invasion.[16][17] Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels have incorporated the letter "Z" in their names since the beginning of the invasion,[18] and Russian telecom authority Roskomnadzor changed the handle of its Telegram channel to showcase the "Z" in its name.[19] 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, while local authorities in several parts of Russia have organized flash mobs in support of the invasion prominently featuring the symbol.[20]

Kamil Galeev of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has said that the "symbol invented just a few days ago became a symbol of new Russian ideology and national identity."[21] Some critics have described the "Z" as a variant of Nazi symbolism,[10][22] with various "Z" starting chants resembling the eponymous salute.[23][better source needed] Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov condemned the use of the "Z" symbol on 7 March, noting its similarity to the name of the Station Z gas chamber of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.[24]

Anti-war activists in Russia have had 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".[25]

History

Russian vehicles along the Russia–Ukraine border displayed the "Z" symbol during the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis in the weeks before the invasion.[26] During the Battle of Kharkiv, local residents used the "Z" symbols to identify Russian vehicles and track their locations on Telegram.[27]

In 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$35.96).[1][2]

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.[28][29]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2022 Russian invasion vehicle markings.

References

  1. ^ a b "Автомобили с буквой Z замечены в Уральске и Шымкенте" [Cars with the letter Z seen in Uralsk and Shymkent]. Tengrinews.kz [kk] (in Russian). 5 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b Lykova, Nadezhda (1 March 2022). "Авто с наклейкой Z: водителя оштрафовали в Нур-Султане" [Car with Z sticker: driver fined in Nur-Sultan]. Tengrinews.kz [kk] (in Russian). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  3. ^ Lazurkevych, Sofia (1 March 2022). "Українські військові показали, як ворог маркує свою техніку" [The Ukrainian military showed how the enemy marks its equipment]. Zaxid.net [uk] (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. ^ Muraviev, Alexey D. (27 February 2022). "How the Russian military remade itself into a modern, efficient and deadly fighting machine". The Conversation. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. ^ MacFarquhar, Neil (8 March 2022). "The letter 'Z' has become a symbol for Russians who support the invasion of Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b Maksimova, Kseniya (3 March 2022). "В Минобороны РФ раскрыли смысл латинских букв на российской военной технике" [The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation revealed the meaning of Latin letters on Russian military equipment]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b Chaturvedi, Amit (7 March 2022). "Explained: What Does The "Z" Symbol On Russian Military Vehicles Mean". NDTV. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  8. ^ Mellor, Sophie (7 March 2022). "How the letter Z became a symbol for pro-war Russians". Fortune. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  9. ^ Finnis, Alex (8 March 2022). "What the Z means on Russian tanks, and why it has become a symbol of war". i. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  10. ^ a b Kerley, Paul (7 March 2022). "Ivan Kuliak: Why has 'Z' become a Russian pro-war symbol?". BBC. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  11. ^ Teh, Cheryl. "Decoding the 'Z' — the mysterious Russian military symbol that's been co-opted by Russia's nationalist movement". Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  12. ^ "La "Z" diventata simbolo dell'invasione russa". Il Post (in Italian). 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  13. ^ Schogol, Jeff (23 February 2022). "Here's what those mysterious white 'Z' markings on Russian military equipment may mean". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  14. ^ Sarkar, Alisha Rahaman (24 February 2022). "Russian tanks: What do the 'Z' and other emblems on military vehicles mean". The Independent. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  15. ^ Roche, Calum (28 February 2022). "Theories about the mysterious 'Z' on Russian tanks in Ukraine". Diario AS. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  16. ^ Kilner, James (7 March 2022). "Russia's terminally ill children line up in letter 'Z' stunt to show Kremlin support". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  17. ^ Teh, Cheryl (7 March 2022). "Decoding the 'Z' — the mysterious Russian military symbol that's been co-opted by Russia's nationalist movement". Insider. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  18. ^ Ling, Justin (24 February 2022). "Russia Launches Social Media Offensive Alongside Missiles". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Why has 'Z' been embraced by supporters of Russia's Ukraine war?". Al Jazeera. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  20. ^ Sauer, Pjotr (7 March 2022). "Why has the letter Z become the symbol of war for Russia?". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  21. ^ Edwards, Jonathan (7 March 2022). "A Russian gymnast wore a 'Z' when standing by a Ukrainian champ. In Russia, it symbolizes support for the invasion". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  22. ^ Nadeau, Barbie Latza (7 March 2022). "Putin's World War Z Has Created a New Swastika". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  23. ^ "From Kamil Galeev". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  24. ^ "Russia uses Nazi signs on its vehicles - Reznikov". Interfax-Ukraine. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  25. ^ Gershkovich, Evan; Matthew, Matthew (7 March 2022). "How the Letter Z Became a Russian Pro-War Symbol". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  26. ^ Mironenko, Dmitriy (21 February 2022). "На кордоні з Україною помітили російську військову техніку з незвичайним маркуванням" [Russian military equipment with unusual markings were spotted on the border with Ukraine]. Dialog.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  27. ^ Khurshudyan, Isabelle; Berger, Miriam (28 February 2022). "Why Kharkiv, a city known for its poets, has become a key battleground in Ukraine". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  28. ^ "'Shocking behaviour': Russian gymnast shows 'Z' symbol on podium next to Ukrainian winner". The Guardian. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Russian gymnast faces disciplinary action after showing Z symbol". Al Jazeera. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
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