A giant letter “Z” and the phrase “Don’t betray your nation, Dima” were scrawled on the door of Russian anti-war activist Dmitry Ivanov one day when he returned home. Violence against anti-war protesters in Russia is becoming more regular as the Ukraine conflict rages on. To show their support for Russia’s “special military operation,” these communications now employ the letter Z.

As Russia began deploying soldiers surrounding Ukraine, the letter Z began to appear on the side of military vehicles. In order to distinguish Russian equipment from similarly styled Ukrainian vehicles, this emblem is used.

However, in Russia, the Z has taken on a new meaning as a mark of support for what Russian President Vladimir Putin has dubbed a “special military operation” in Ukrainian.

To frighten individuals who oppose the war, the emblem has been employed. Ivanov, a computer science student at the State University of Moscow, found himself in this position. How the letter Z has taken on new importance for him and other campaigners was discussed in an interview.

He stated, “The first time, they wrote: ‘Don’t betray your country, Dima.’ The second time there was a poster with a photo of me they’d found on the internet, along with the numbers of the new law on military censorship, which targets people who share information about the war in Ukraine or say they oppose it. The first time it happened, I was shocked. It doesn’t happen every day that someone comes and vandalizes your front door. It’s not exactly pleasant. It’s like they’re sending a message: ‘We know where you live, we can come back any time.’”

He further said, “What does the letter Z stand for? For me, it’s like a swastika. That’s what it has become. It looks a little like a swastika, and it’s used in the same way. It might intimidate some people. But personally, I’m not afraid. I would be more afraid of an official visit from the police.”