<p>The letter ‘Z’ is the new symbol of war for Russia. It is being sported by athletes and military vehicles, who are carrying out the offensive in Ukraine. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>It also keeps popping up on social media and has also appeared on cars, clothing and signs. It seems to have become a propaganda symbol in Russia to support the invasion of Ukraine. Some people have also compared it to the Nazi 'swastika', which was used in the Second World War.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Brief 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1c9d66df-0e0b-42d9-9087-901d456b491f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Z2.jpg" /></p>

<p>On its social media channels, the Kremlin-funded state network RT had also announced just three days after the invasion that it was selling Z merchandise to show support for Russian troops. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-russia-ukraine-conflict-phone-lines-internet-remain-untouched-but-why-460122" hreflang="en">In Russia-Ukraine conflict, phone lines, internet remain untouched. But why?</a></strong></p>

<p>The mysterious Z-shaped letter was first spotted on Russian tanks and military trucks at the Ukrainian border by experts on February 19. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Just another day in the life of Maria Butina:<br />
<br />
Drawing a white "Z" marking on your lapel to show solidarity with the invasion of Ukraine <a href="https://t.co/raYG3kRznT">pic.twitter.com/raYG3kRznT</a></p>
— Francis Scarr (@francska1) <a href="https://twitter.com/francska1/status/1499289678868058112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, more military hardware could be seen emblazoned with Zs and other letters like O, X, A and V. &nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Brief 3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c2820a38-74fb-4d3a-a76c-536e1fa96f08" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Z3.jpg" /></p>

<p>This comes as letter Z does not exist in the Cyrillic Russian alphabet. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-poutine-not-putin-classic-delicacy-falls-victim-to-russia-ukraine-conflict-goes-off-menu-459877" hreflang="en">It’s Poutine, not Putin: Classic delicacy falls victim to Russia-Ukraine conflict, goes off menu</a></strong></p>

<p>So, why the letter ‘Z’? Several military experts have come up with many theories to find a valid answer to this question. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It found a lot of supporters. Many Russians are putting "Z" on their cars - that's totally voluntary and to my best knowledge nobody's forcing them <a href="https://t.co/sanIdE1rwE">pic.twitter.com/sanIdE1rwE</a></p>
— Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani) <a href="https://twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/1500496406209089538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>One of them is that it could have been done in a bid to avoid 'friendly fire' as Russian and Ukraine army tanks look same. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> Russian missiles and equipment ready for a new attack were spotted in occupied Crimea. Almost all license plates are hidden, with their distinctive signs in the form of the letter "Z" on board <a href="https://t.co/YcQSmoQMMj">pic.twitter.com/YcQSmoQMMj</a></p>
— Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) <a href="https://twitter.com/HannaLiubakova/status/1500840850875686912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Instagram channel, the Russian defense ministry said that Z meant Za pobedu (“for victory”) and V stood for “power of truth”. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


The letter ‘Z’ is the new symbol of war for Russia. It is being sported by athletes and military vehicles, who are carrying out the offensive in Ukraine. It also keeps popping up on social media and has also appeared on cars, clothing and signs.

The letter ‘Z’ is the new symbol of war for Russia. It is being sported by athletes and military vehicles, who are carrying out the offensive in Ukraine. It also keeps popping up on social media and has also appeared on cars, clothing and signs. It seems to have become a propaganda symbol in Russia to support the invasion of Ukraine. Some people have also compared it to the Nazi 'swastika', which was used in the Second World War. On its social media channels, the Kremlin-funded state network RT had also announced just three days after the invasion that it was selling Z merchandise to show support for Russian troops. Also Read: In Russia-Ukraine conflict, phone lines, internet remain untouched. But why? The mysterious Z-shaped letter was first spotted on Russian tanks and military trucks at the Ukrainian border by experts on February 19. Just another day in the life of Maria Butina: Drawing a white "Z" marking on your lapel to show solidarity with the invasion of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/raYG3kRznT — Francis Scarr (@francska1) March 3, 2022 × When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, more military hardware could be seen emblazoned with Zs and other letters like O, X, A and V. This comes as letter Z does not exist in the Cyrillic Russian alphabet. Also Read: It’s Poutine, not Putin: Classic delicacy falls victim to Russia-Ukraine conflict, goes off menu So, why the letter ‘Z’? Several military experts have come up with many theories to find a valid answer to this question. It found a lot of supporters. Many Russians are putting "Z" on their cars - that's totally voluntary and to my best knowledge nobody's forcing them pic.twitter.com/sanIdE1rwE — Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani) March 6, 2022 × One of them is that it could have been done in a bid to avoid 'friendly fire' as Russian and Ukraine army tanks look same. #Ukraine Russian missiles and equipment ready for a new attack were spotted in occupied Crimea. Almost all license plates are hidden, with their distinctive signs in the form of the letter "Z" on board pic.twitter.com/YcQSmoQMMj — Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) March 7, 2022 × On Instagram channel, the Russian defense ministry said that Z meant Za pobedu (“for victory”) and V stood for “power of truth”. (With inputs from agencies)

Explainer: Letter 'Z' turns symbol to show support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. What does it mean?

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