"Z" is a military symbol that the Russian military has been painting on vehicles in Ukraine. It's become a pro-war symbol for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

[–] Alto@kbin.social 36 points 1 year ago (3 children)

To expand, it's essentially the Russian version of the German iron cross in ww2, and has very similar connotations.

[–] Skua@kbin.social 19 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not sure that analogy really holds. The iron cross had been part of German military iconography since before Germany was even a united country, whereas this Z thing appears to have popped up specifically for the current Russian invasion

[–] Alto@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

The connotations of the iron cross during ww2 and the Russian Z now are very much similar.

Nowhere did I claim the connotation of the iron cross outside of ww2 carried the same connotation, because it very clearly doesn't.

[–] snooggums@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

I heard Zorro will be suing any day now.

[–] Epilektoi_Hoplitai@lemmy.ca 38 points 1 year ago

Upvote for a sincere question. Here's the wiki article on its use as a fascistic pro-war symbol. Kazakhs are unhappy with it because they too are a country that Russia makes territorial claims against and are thus largely opposed to the war and its symbols.