‘Z’ become a Russian pro-war symbol – Ivan Kuliak

‘Z’ – Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak is facing disciplinary proceedings by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for displaying the letter “Z” on the podium next to a Ukrainian rival in Qatar. But what does the symbol mean?

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 demonstrations in Belgrade. Photographs have been widely shared on social media.

It has become a social media conversation, says Aglaya Snetkova, a lecturer in international politics at the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies at UCL. “In many ways, this shows the extent to which Russia is, or has been, very much part of the global world.”

While zed in the Russian Cyrillic alphabet is written differently – and looks like a 3 – most Russians recognise Latin letters. Emily Ferris, Research Fellow Russia and Eurasia at RUSI, says the “Z” is a powerful and easily recognisable symbol.

“Often with propaganda, the simplest things catch on the quickest,” she says. “It looks rather intimidating and quite stark. From an aesthetic perspective, it’s a very powerful symbol.”

It has taken less than a fortnight for the “Z” to spread among those supportive of President Putin’s invasion.

In the central Russian city of Kazan, about 60 children and staff at a hospice were photographed outside in the snow forming a giant “Z” in front of their building.

Initially, it was thought that the “Z” was in fact a number “2” – representing the 22 February (22/02/2022). That was the day Russia ratified an agreement on “friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance” with the self-proclaimed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine – Donetsk and Luhansk.

But it is now believed the symbol is simply a way for Russia’s military to identify its own forces.

Last week, viewers to a news programme on Russia’s state-controlled Channel One were told that a “Z” was a common marking on Russian military equipment. The Orthodox Christian pro-Putin website Tsargrad told readers the simple marking could “avoid friendly fire” and couldn’t be “mixed up with anything else”.