Since the beginning of the Russian intervention in Ukraine, the letter “Z”, inscribed on the tanks of Moscow, has made its appearance in the public space in Russia: on cars, the torso of an athlete and even on the women’s nail polish.
If several theories exist on its meaning, one thing is certain: it is a symbol of support for the Russian army, the appearance of which crystallizes passions, for or against.
The “Z”, a Latin letter, not a Cyrillic one, first surfaced by being painted on Russian armor advancing towards or into Ukraine, possibly to distinguish it from similar Ukrainian equipment and thus avoid friendly fire.
But the sign of recognition quickly became a symbol, spreading on cars in the streets of Moscow, on clothes or on the profiles of Russians on social networks. And the authorities seem to want to encourage the phenomenon.
On its Instagram and Telegram pages, the Russian Ministry of Defense declines the letter in several messages: “ Za Pobedu ” (” For victory “), ” Za Mir ” (” for peace “), ” Za pravdu “(“for the truth”), ” Za Rossiiou (“for Russia”).
Local media also published a photo taken from the sky of about sixty sick children, their families and caregivers forming a “Z” in the snowy courtyard of their hospice located in Kazan, Tatarstan.
A few days later, 20-year-old Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak stepped onto the third step of the Gymnastics World Cup podium in Doha, Qatar, with a “Z” affixed to his chest. Next, on the first step, a Ukrainian athlete.
The International Gymnastics Federation responded by calling for “the opening of disciplinary proceedings against Kuliak for his shocking behavior”.
The young athlete for his part declared to the Russian media that if I had to do it again, “I would do the same thing”: “I saw it worn by our soldiers and I looked at what the symbol meant. […] I wanted to show my position. As an athlete, I will always fight for victory and play for peace. »
flashmobs
Among the theories on the meaning of “Z” is also the quite prosaic possibility that it is the first letter of the word ” zapad “, which means “west” in Russian, in reference to the armed forces of the western district of the country.
Finally, some also noted that it was the first letter of the name of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Be that as it may, from politicians to celebrities, including certain influencers, everyone wants to show off with their “Z”, which has become a symbol of allegiance to the Kremlin.
Roskomnadzor, the policeman of the Russian media, thus capitalized the “Z” in his name on Telegram.
In many Russian regions, including remote ones, flashmobs and other demonstrations of support multiplied under the slogan “We do not abandon ours”, with also women’s choirs singing with a “Z” on their chests, taxis displaying the “Z” in their windows or cars parked in a “Z” shape.
A resident of Donetsk, a city in the pro-Russian separatist east of Ukraine, also posted on Instagram a photo of her fingernails painted black with a white “Z”.
And in Barnaoul (south), a huge “Z” was unfolded on the snow, in the orange and brown colors of the Saint-Georges ribbon, a symbol of military valor.
Industrious minds have also sniffed out the right vein, and ‘Z’ branded t-shirts are now being sold online.
In the camp of opponents of the military intervention, the symbols are less visible in the public space, even if small demonstrations take place daily despite the ban.
Pacifist slogans are sometimes painted on walls in Moscow. But they are quickly erased.