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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPutin's World War Z Has Created a New Swastika
In the days before Russias all-out invasion, white Zs started showing up on Russian military hardware. Now theyre everywhere.https://www.thedailybeast.com/vladimir-putins-world-war-z-has-created-a-new-swastika
What started out as curious markings slapped in white paint on Russian tanks and trucks has now become a symbol of Vladimir Putins own version of World War Z. Now, the Z has become akin to a new swastika or symbol of hatred and is showing up everywhere supporters of Russias uninvited invasion of Ukraine can be found.
Kamil Galeev, a Galina Starovoitova Fellow at Woodrow Wilson Center, has been curating examples of the creepy characters use on Twitter. 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, he tweeted before the invasion. Now Galeev believes the symbol means Putin has taken a page out of the worlds worst tyrants, including Benito Mussolini. To put it simply, its going full fascist, he tweeted. Authorities launched a propaganda campaign to gain popular support for their invasion of Ukraine and theyre getting lots of it.
Link to tweet
Indeed, the symbol is likely not directly tied to Mussolinis fasces symbol that also sported a Z any more than it is a reference to the 2013 Brad Pitt film World War Z, which premiered at the Moscow film festival that yearthough it could be argued that Russian troops are not so different from the zombie invasion the film is based on. But it certainly is gaining popular appeal. Over the weekend Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak was seen wearing a white Z on his leotard as he stood next to Ukraines Kovtun Illia, who had just won the gold in the Gymnastics World Cup event in Doha, Qatar.
Link to tweet
Severely ill Russian children at a cancer center in the city of Kazan were reportedly made to line up in the Z formation for a photograph that has been widely distributed in social media. The badges of dead Ukrainian soldiers have also been photographed lined up in the Z formation, and the letter has shown up on flags, on trucks, and in convoys of supposed supporters of Putins war.
Link to tweet
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Putin's World War Z Has Created a New Swastika (Original Post)
Celerity
Mar 2022
OP
When (as in what years) was that? I was perhaps too young and also was living in London.
Celerity
Mar 2022
#5
Sounds like it was a 'support the illegal Iraq murder war' thing, but with a Rethug partisan angle.
Celerity
Mar 2022
#10
There were also these black "W" stickers, and underneath was "THE PRESIDENT." So I made a parody.
Efilroft Sul
Mar 2022
#15
Gotta be Z for Zelensky, right? He's supposed to be the Nazi that's stirring up
lindysalsagal
Mar 2022
#6
underpants
(182,799 posts)1. I expect to see them here
Theyll think its their little code to each other like the old Hilton Head, South Carolina flag, and 88 bumper stickers.
vercetti2021
(10,156 posts)2. If we start seeing it here at home
Fucking rip it off, tear it off, confront the fucking traitors face first.
LiberatedUSA
(1,666 posts)18. Terrible idea in a country where a good number choose to carry a gun...
to defend against an attack such as that.
Blues Heron
(5,932 posts)3. Remember the Bush "wastika"?
The W sticker that was all over the place.
Celerity
(43,349 posts)5. When (as in what years) was that? I was perhaps too young and also was living in London.
Efilroft Sul
(3,579 posts)7. Around where I live, they were everywhere from March 2003 to August 2005.
Katrina had a way of making a lot of those stickers disappear.
Celerity
(43,349 posts)10. Sounds like it was a 'support the illegal Iraq murder war' thing, but with a Rethug partisan angle.
Blues Heron
(5,932 posts)12. Heres one - have your stomach remedy handy -
I should probably deserve a hide for posting this! (Ill leave it up for five minutes just so you can see it)
Celerity
(43,349 posts)14. well, that seems like a re-election sticker
Blues Heron
(5,932 posts)17. other ones didnt have the year - just the W - but you get the idea
Ill take it down now that youve seen it
Efilroft Sul
(3,579 posts)15. There were also these black "W" stickers, and underneath was "THE PRESIDENT." So I made a parody.
F THE PRESIDENT. Pissed off a few folks, every one of whom now looks at Bush as a RINO weakling compared to Trump.
Blues Heron
(5,932 posts)8. 2002-03 I think
suddenly they were everywhere
Celerity
(43,349 posts)16. thanks
Efilroft Sul
(3,579 posts)4. Zorro's gonna be pissed and carve Putin's ass for this.
Especially for making the kids with cancer do this fascist crap.
lindysalsagal
(20,682 posts)6. Gotta be Z for Zelensky, right? He's supposed to be the Nazi that's stirring up
Ukrainians against their motherland, in their warped mentality.
Lovie777
(12,260 posts)9. Zombies . ...
Nevilledog
(51,101 posts)11. World War Z.........but without the actual zombies.
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)13. They need symbols to divide. Nt
ironflange
(7,781 posts)19. It's a symbol, there is no Z in the Cyrillic alphabet
Its letter for the Z sound looks like a 3.