Russia Z symbol: The meaning behind the cult symbol that has swept across Putin's Russia

[Celerity]

Russians have been using the letter Z to show their support for President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine - but what does it mean and why are they plastering it on tanks, cars and their homes?

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1576487/Russia-Z-symbol-meaning-evg



Images of Russian tanks have become commonplace following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. And the eagle-eyed amongst us may have noticed a white Z painted on them. While it’s not clear why the tanks bear this letter, in particular, the tag has become widespread with ‘proud’ Russians also starting to use the moniker as a show of support for Mr Putin’s invasion.

Explaining the phenomenon on Twitter, Galina Starovoitova Fellow Kamil Galeev wrote: “Z is a letter that Russian Military are putting on their vehicles departing to Ukraine. “Some interpret Z as Za pobedy (for victory). Others - as Zapad (West). “Anyway, this symbol invented just a few days ago became a symbol of new Russian ideology and national identity.” The symbol has been used far and wide across Russia, with cars, vans and properties sporting the bizarre tag.



Professor Michael Clarke, former director of the defence think tank Rusi, told Sky News: “Often these symbols will be location based – they will be communicating where a unit is heading. "If they were only to mark the vehicles as being Russian, you could just use one symbol. “The fact that they are different tells you more – they are probably signs which tell you which units are heading to the north-east or north-west of a district, for example.”

And it's not the only symbol being used to show support for the Russian invasion. Other symbols include a triangle with two lines on either side, a circle with three dots inside and a large triangle with a smaller triangle inside. Mr Galeev added: “Of course all of this is being done in the name of Russian Orthodox Church. Shelling of residential districts, carpet bombings, launching ballistic missiles upon Ukrainian cities. All in the name of Orthodoxy.

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Russian military makes Z symbol out of badges of dead Ukrainian soldiers

[Blues Heron]

1. Z for zero - total morons

[SheltieLover]

2. Yup

[dalton99a]

3. +1

[fierywoman]

4. "z" for (what it sounds like to me): nee peezz dee!

[doc03]

5. We have people with the Q? Could the Q cult originated from Russian cyber war? nt

[Liberal In Texas]

6. Half of a swastika. n/t

[Celerity]

9. 4 T's work too

[Liberal In Texas]

12. Indeed. n/t

[tinrobot]

7. Reminds me of the idiots using the letter "Q" here.

I wonder if the smart liberals of Russia also look down on those using it.

[Crunchy Frog]

8. So much for the Russian people not supporting this. A large percentage of them do.

[chowder66]

10. I can only think of Nazi since turning the Z makes an N.

[mackdaddy]

11. I heard one theory it was for their target number one: President Zelenskyy

But who knows...

[Celerity]

14. no, it is likely either 'victory' or part of area-specific military campaign markings

the Z could be both (depending on if it is being used in the battle theatre OR if back home in Russia, (and spread to the outside word for Russian shills to glom on to) then as a symbol for 'victory' for the Putin regime

Link to tweet

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

19. Z Battlegroup markings make sense but why do Brits say 'Zed' while we say 'Zee'?

[Celerity]

20. I was born in Los Angeles, but left as a baby, raised in London, so it is zed for me. That said,

as far as I know, the origin story is the Greek zeta turned into the French zede, which turned into the English zed.

Zee started to be used at times in the 1400's, 1500's, 1600's as it rhythmed with B, C, etc.

It was used on both sides of the Pond. Never was that popular over here, and after the American Revolution, the former colonies wanted to really have their own identity and so zee was cemented into perma-use.

[czarjak]

13. NYET COLLUSION though! Huh, Vladski?

[Sedona]

15. Z is the new Q ???

[TygrBright]

16. "Z" seems to be the Russian analog for "Q". n/t

[Midnight Writer]

17. Z is 26th letter. 2+68. The 8th letter is H. H stands for Hitler.

At least that's how we do it in River City.

[Retrograde]

18. Except this doesn't work in Russian

or Ukranian - neither of which use the Latin alphabet. From what I remember of my 50-years-ago Russian classes, Russian doesn't even have an H.

[2live is 2fly]

21. Beach Blanket movies

Z is for Eric Von "Z"IPPER & his gang, the RatZ (Beach Blanket Bingo Surfer movies w/Annette Funicello & Franky Avalon, 1960s). Just as bumbling that is - Russians & Von "Z"IPPER.