Why has 'Z' become a Russian pro-war symbol? - BBC News

Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak is facing disciplinary proceedings by the International Gymnastics Federation for displaying the letter "Z" on the podium next to a Ukrainian rival in Qatar.

In Russia, the "Z" is fast becoming seen as a staunchly pro-war symbol of President Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

It has been sported by politicians, seen on the sides of cars, vans and advertising hoardings - as well as daubed on bus shelters.

It has even been used by Serbs at pro-Russian demonstration in Belgrade. Photographs have been widely shared on social media.

But what does the symbol mean?

#Ukraine #Russia #BBCNews

[nomorerock]

V is russian Vostok (East), Z is Zapad (West). V troops are going primarily from south and south-west of Belarus to east to attack Kyiv, Z troops are going from Russia from east to west.

[Maple_Cadian]

Z, O, V, X and A have been used as invasion markings. They serve the same purpouse invasion stripes did for the allied at normandy.

[anonymouse]

Zapad (West) Vostok (East) seems logical to me. Since they were doing military exercises they had to distinguish the opposing sides. Using Latin alphabet also makes sense, because Russian letters В and З could be confused for numbers 8 and 3.

[Stazzych]

Here you go. If you guys actually interested.

Z = Eastern Forces of RF
[Z] = RF forces from Crimea
V = Marines
X = Chechens
O = Forces from Belarus
A = Special forces.

This is to prevent friendly fire and identify units. Same was used by NATO troops in conflics like Desert storm where you frequently could see "<" on sides of the vehicles. There is no mystrious meaning... just practical aid so you dont shoot your own.

[neill]

Both military’s share similar equipment and its simply a mechanism to prevent friendly fire.

[willpower]

It really took 150 seconds to say "I don't know?"

[miller]

It is the symbol of Zorro, you goons! The BBC clearly lost it on this one.

[rackets]

Whats the simplest answer? Its to identify Russian troop vehicles from Ukrainian vehicles which are also Russian.. Peas in a pod without a way to separate them.. Big Red's answer sounds most logical..

[СеменНазаров-ею]

We (in Russia) have many variations of the meaning of this symbol, the main one is: "Za победу! - "For Victory" the English letter Z is identical in sound to the Russian letter "з" and ours is simply replaced by Russian with an English letter.
Here, too, there is a symbol "V", the same situation: "в" is consonant with the English "V", and the main phrase "Сила V Правде! " - "Power in truth" Russian "в" means the word "in"

[heisenberg]

You're missing the key issue. 'Z' isn't even a Cyrillic letter. Why would they initialize any Russian words with letters from a foreign system of writing?

[vladomaimun]

It's just a marking to avoid friendly fire as the russian and ukrainian militaries use many of the same vehicles.

[bigred]

Z stands for Zapad, Russian word for "West". "V" is for Vostok, East.

[목포가변하고있다]

We South Koreans sincerely support Ukrainian.

[moucli]

The report in short : BBC doesn't know what Z stands for

[longtimenoc]

Z doesn't stand for anything, it was just used by Russian to differentiate their military vehicles from Ukrainian, because both vehicles are from soviet times and similar. Later after failed invasion to Ukraine and violent behavior of invaders, the letter started to escalate to the level of symbolism and eventually equaling now swastika.

[nor]

The Orange and Black stripes on the z symbol are from the St Georges ribbon worn to commemorate veterans from the WW2. It is also used on military medals. Trouble is, if you turn the z on it’s side it makes a capital N, the first letter of the group Putin claims to be fighting against and also a lightning bolt….

[RashaKahn]

After the war the Z will stand for “Zelensky was here!” On the remains of the Russian vehicle.

[HoltAircraft]

The letters are to ID their forces and what command they are under

[flotiggy]

My theory: The Russians were on so called manoeuvres in the days prior to the invasion. The 'Z' and 'V' were the designated teams.

[ChiSa]

Please, do not call the Nazi symbol a "swastika"! 卐
The Nazi symbol is a "haken krauz" i.e. hooked cross. The hooked cross and similar symbols i.e. the swastika have been around for thousands of years. Hitler took the hooked cross rotated 45 degrees on a white circle on a red background. Hitler never mentioned or ever called it a "swastika" in "Mein Kampf".
The word swastika was adopted by English translators and the west as a way to distinguish it from the traditional christian cross and offending/upsetting the christian religion... all the while technically upsetting some sects of christianity and many others for using the ancient religious word "swastika" to define it. It was a commonly used symbol everywhere before Hitler ruined it!
For more information please Web search about Swastika or look at the Wikipedia page.