The Latin-script letter Z (Russian: зет, tr. zet, IPA: [zɛt]) is one of several symbols (including “V” and “O”) painted on military vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces involved in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is speculated that the Z helps task forces distinguish themselves from other forces.
What does AZ mean on a military vehicle
What does it mean? It has become a symbol of the Russian invasion, painted on military vehicles, printed on T-shirts and widely distributed through social media in support of Moscow’s war.
What does AZ mean in Russian tanks?
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 the Z and O mean on Russian tanks
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.