Moving away from the "Z"?

Now new symbol appears on Russian tanks

Created: 09/27/2022, 10:29 am

By: Hannes Niemeyer

In the Ukraine war, the "Z" became a symbol of the Russian attack.

Now there's a new symbol on the military vehicles - and speculation about its meaning.

Kharkiv – It is almost symbolic of the brutal Ukraine war that Russia has been waging since the end of February: the “Z”.

When Vladimir Putin's troops marched in, the last letter of the alphabet was lit up in white by several tanks and military vehicles.

Hardly any symbol immediately made such waves - even as far away as Germany.

The symbol also appeared occasionally in this country, especially by people who were accused of condoning the Russian war of aggression.

They reacted and made the use of the "Z" a punishable offense, as a case from Wolfratshausen shows.

In Russia, the meaning of the "Z" is clear.

The Department of Defense said it meant "For Victory."

However, the Ukraine is currently a long way from this, as the successful counter-offensive by the Kyiv troops impressively shows.

A reason for Russia to swear off the "Z" as a symbol?

A Russian tank with the "Z" symbol: A different symbol is now appearing on some military vehicles from Russia.

© Leo Correa / dpa

Moving away from the "Z"?

New sign appears on Russian military vehicles in Ukraine war

In any case, there is currently a lot of speculation about this.

Because as early as the end of August, according to several media reports, Russian military equipment on which the “Z” was painted over was on the move in Ukraine.

Instead, a new symbol is doing the rounds.

In the eastern Ukrainian city of Tores, for example, vehicles are said to have been painted with a triangle containing a circle instead of the usual “Z”.

There are posts on Twitter by a pro-Ukrainian social media user showing the new symbol.

, photos of tanks with the new symbol

should also be circulating on Telegram .

According to

, the vehicles in the Twitter post on which the symbol can be seen are vehicles of the newly formed 3rd Army Corps.

Information that fits an investigation by the Russian group called "Conflict Intelligence Team" which reported troop movements in said region at the time.

According to

, the symbol has since been sighted in areas around Mariupol and other regions.

New Russia symbol in the Ukraine war: what does the triangle-circle sign stand for?

New troops, new symbol, new phase in the war?

At first one can only speculate about the meaning of the circle-triangle sign.

However, it would fit into the current course.

Ukraine's counter-offensive not only halted Putin's war, which was sold as a "special operation", but is now even causing critical voices among Russian politicians.

With reference to the Moscow historian Kamil Galeev,

also writes that the "Z" has increasingly disappeared even in warmonger Telegram chats.

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What is certain is that the "Z" could now be remembered as a symbol of the Russian "special operation" that has failed or is at least not going according to plan, rather than as a symbol of war.

Especially if Russia fails to win the war and achieve military goals.

However, it remains unclear whether this is a reason for a change of symbol, whether the new symbol is intended to stand for new hope or a bitter reaction to the course of the war.

The Ukraine War in Pictures - Destruction, Resistance and Hope

View photo gallery

Not only the symbols, but also the tone of voice changes in war.

Putin's propaganda machine is stuck.

And the Kremlin boss himself apparently has to accept losses.

After a Twitter post, a humiliation of Putin was discussed.