NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine dragged into its second week, photos of Russian tanks and uniforms emblazoned with various symbols, including “Z” and “V”, have surfaced, leading to speculation about their exact meaning and origin.
The issue hit the headlines on Sunday after Russian gymnast Ivan Kulyak was seen wearing a Z on his chest while competing at the World Apparatus Championships in Doha, Qatar, alongside Ukrainians.
Sign Z and worlds with the inscription “we do not leave our own” over Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo)
Commentators agree that the “Z” broadly stands for support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. But its exact meaning, along with its “V” counterpart, may go much deeper.
RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES
“Z” can have a dual meaning, “Zapad” (West) or “Z” for Ukrainian President Volodymyr “Zelensky”, while “V” can mean “East” (East).
“Russians love symbolism,” former intelligence officer Rebecca Koffler told Fox News. “Usually it’s not just one thing.”
Another possible use of these symbols could be to distinguish Russian military equipment from Ukrainian military equipment.
Russian soldiers with the symbols “V” and “Z”. (Instagram/@mil_ru)
Despite the fact that there is not a single letter in Cyrillic, the official Russian military Instagram page displays the symbols “V” and “Z”.
RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR: NEW YORK UNDER INCREASED RISK OF RUSSIAN CYBER ATTACK IN RESPONSE
One of the posts shows a Russian soldier with the letter “Z” superimposed on a photo.
“They protect you and the world. Let’s support our guys,” the caption reads.
Koffler told Fox News that the Russians may be using Latin characters as a signal that the war in Ukraine is part of a larger conflict between the Atlanticism of the West and the Eurasianism of the East.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Russia does not feel European or Asian, but Eurasian,” Koffler said. “That’s how they see it. It’s not about Ukraine, but about the confrontation between East and West. They want to control Eurasia and don’t want the US or China to dominate.”