. Photo courtesy of Kamil Galeev. Russian Military convoy displays a “Z” on the back of their truck, meaning “Za pobedy” (for victory), or Zapad (West). This symbol emerged days before the invasion started and has been seen all over Ukraine now.
What does Z mean on Russian tanks
Since mid-March 2022, the “Z” began to be used by the Russian government as a pro-war propaganda motif, and has been appropriated by pro-Putin civilians as a symbol of support for Russia’s invasion.
What does the Z mean on Russian trucks
Other reports have said that the symbols are a way of denoting the origins of the forces – for example, some have said that the “Z” denotes forces from Russia’s eastern district, while the “Z” inside a square seen on other Russian vehicles means the forces are from Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
What does the letter Z mean on Russian vehicles?
Military experts interpreted the “Z” as “Za pobedy,” Russian for “for victory,” or as “Zapad,” for “West.” Some dubbed vehicles painted with the symbol the “Zorro Squad,” while others suggested the “Z” might stand for the Kremlin’s self-styled “target number one,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
What does the V and Z on tanks mean?
Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. V on Russian tank captured by the Ukrainian army. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Z stands for Eastern Military district, while V stands for Naval infantry. A graphic showing Russian military markings.