Z memes that incorporate old photos of Soviet soldiers - and the recognizable orange-and-black stripes of the Ribbon of St. The “Great Patriotic War” maintains a significant presence in Russian culture - the anniversary of Germany’s defeat is celebrated each year on May 9, and World War II imagery is heavily associated with Russian patriotism and national pride. Those letters don’t appear in the Russian language’s Cyrillic alphabet, so some of the memes Latinize them: most common are ones that begin with the word “for” - spelled “Зa” in Russian, but Latinized to “Za” for the memes.Īnother way Putin’s regime has turned the Z into a propaganda meme has been by connecting it with the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. They began generating memes that incorporated the Z and V into propaganda slogans. Questions about what the symbols meant began circulating online, and once the invasion began on February 24, most analysts agreed the markings were likely for tactical purposes.īut as intrigue around them grew, the Russian Defense Ministry seized on the opportunity to claim that the letters carry extra meaning.
The symbol was originally spotted on Russian tanks and trucks building up at Ukraine’s border in late February, along with other letters like V and O.
The letter popped up on merchandise, in highly organized flash mobs that often involved children, at pro-war rallies, and in internet memes. The Z symbol had already been appearing all over Russia, as a sign of support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine and loyalty to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak caused controversy in March when he accepted a bronze medal at a World Cup event, while sporting a taped-on letter “Z” on his uniform.
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