Russian Tanks Seen Marked With Mysterious 'Z' Symbol And Experts Have No idea What They Mean

Footage showing Russian tanks marked with a mysterious ‘Z’ symbol have gone viral on social media, as experts question what they could mean. 

Videos and images of Russian tanks, supply vehicles and rocket launchers have since gone viral on social media, with many clips showing a ‘Z’ inside a large square marked on the vehicles. 

Investigative journalist, Aric Toler, was among the first to report on the phenomenon, as he took to Twitter to say his agency had ‘been monitoring this stuff non-stop for eight years’ but had not yet seen a symbol like this. 

"So, assume the worst, I guess/fear," he added on Twitter. 

Experts are now speculating what the mysterious symbols could mean. 

“It’s vital that any attacking force can be distinguished, particularly from the air where Russian forces will have complete control. 

“The Ukrainians have very similar tanks and vehicles and will want to reduce the risk of friendly fire.” 

However, other theories have also gained some traction. 

David Kime, a former soldier, police officer and field intelligence officer was supposedly told by mercenaries from a Russian paramilitary organisation that the ‘Z’ stands for ‘Zelensky’ - the name of the current President of Ukraine. 

Russian defence policy expert, Rob Lee, gave his expert opinion on Twitter, as he said: “It appears Russian forces near the border are painting markers, in this case ‘Z’, on vehicles to identify different task forces or echelons.” 

Ultimately, all theories continue to be just that – theories, as there has been no conclusive evidence of what the ‘Z’ means. 

"We have seen that he has recognised these breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine and from the reports we can already tell that he has sent in tanks and troops. 

"From that you can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun."