Russia's terminally ill children line up in letter 'Z' symbol to show Kremlin support
Unexpectedly, perhaps, the letter 'Z' has become a staunchly pro-war and pro-Vladimir Putin symbol in Russia.
For people who have dubbed a 'Z' on their cars, wear t-shirts emblazoned with a 'Z' or perhaps style a 'Z' brooch, it is a sign of Putin's strength and the righteousness of his mission to unite the ancient Russian people through his invasion of Ukraine. To many others, the 'Z' symbol fills them with a sinister dread.
And, with the war in Ukraine getting bogged down and news of casualties filtering back to Russia, Putin's millions of supporters are going to ever greater lengths to show their fealty to their leader and the regime.
In the city of Kazan, in the central Tatarstan region, this weekend Vladimir Vavilov, chairman of a cancer charity that runs a hospice for sick children, organised for the children and their mothers to line up in a giant 'Z' in the snow. He photographed the stunt using a drone and posted it on the hospice website.
"Our patients and entire team took part in it, about 60 people in total. People lined up in the form of the letter 'Z'," Mr Vavilov said. "In our lefthand we held leaflets with the flags of the LPR, DPR, Russia and Tatarstan and we clenched our right hand into a fist."
The LPR and DPR are the Luhansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic that Putin has recognised as independent states. He used their protection as an excuse to invade Ukraine. Ukraine still claims sovereignty over them.
Taken from the Latin alphabet, and not the Cyrillic alphabet that Russians use, 'Z' came to prominence in Russia last month with the invasion of Ukraine when photographs of Russian tanks, armoured cars and personnel carriers painted with the 'Z' insignia of the main attacking battle group started appearing on Russians' TV news and in their newspapers.
At first the 'Z' symbol was used, perhaps coyly, by only a handful of people to show their support for Russian soldiers. Now, though, and seemingly with official support, it has gone mainstream and international.
Hundreds of cars dubbed with a 'Z' drove in convoys around Russia's main cities honking their horns flying flags yesterday and at the Gymnastic World Cup in Doha, Russian athlete Ivan Kuliak wore the letter 'Z' on his kit during the medal ceremony.
Now two slickly produced videos have also appeared on social media channels of hundreds of Russians waving flags and shouting their support for Putin and his war in Ukraine.
"For Russia, for the President!" They chant in unison. "For Russia, for Putin!"
They are all wearing identical black sweatshirts, each one emblazoned with a white 'Z'.
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Originally Posted by Platinum
3 od 4 ubijena clana porodice u Irpinu, otac je prezivio, djeca i zena ubijeni granatom. Nastradali su pored spomenika (lijevo na slici) najvjerovatnije posvecenog antifasisitckoj borbi iz WWII. Simbolicno. Vjerovatno slucajno, mada vjerujem da je kod moskovskog kasapina ta cinjenica izazvala odusevljenje. Ali ne brine me moskovski ludak, vise ove nase komsije koje na ovakve fotografije masturbiraju. Ima ih. Ima. Vise no dodje na one skupove...
oće novu Bjelorusiju. al dobro, vjerujem da dostini sa foruma ne bi smetalo da Zelenski bude marioneta Rusije
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