According to Galina Starovoitova Fellow Kamil Galeev "Some interpret "Z" as "Za pobedy" (for victory). Others - as "Zapad" (West),”
“This symbol invented just a few days ago became a symbol of new Russian ideology and national identity,” he added.
The "Z" symbol was first spotted on February 22. It also appeared on vehicles in Crimea, when it was annexed by Russia in 2014, according to The Independent.
Other symbols painted on the Russian military vehicles are a triangle with two lines , a circle with three dots and a large triangle with a smaller triangle.
Russian athlete Ivan Kuliak wearing the Z Symbol went viral after he went on stage to collect his bronze medal which he won at the recent World Cup event in Doha