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Ukraine’s Military Vehicles Spotted With ‘ARROW’ Symbol As Kyiv Looks To Regain Momentum & Push Back Russian Troops

Armed with US tanks & NATO fighter jets, Ukraine seems ready to attack Russian territories. This conjecture has arisen after Ukraine tanks with a unique ‘arrow’ mark in the forward direction popped up on multiple social media platforms.

This sign is similar to the ‘Z’ sign, which can be seen on Russian tanks, ICVs, and other military vehicles since the Ukraine war began last year in February.

While going to war or invading the enemy space, armies put a special mark on their military vehicles to differentiate between ‘friend and foe.’ This has been a practice followed since the Second World War (WWII).

On February 24, 2022, when the Russian army invaded Ukraine, all its tanks and other military vehicles carried a particular sign of ‘Z,’ which later became the ‘national symbol’ of support to Russian President Vladimir Putin by his fellow countrymen.

Initially, military experts were too puzzled by this ‘Z’ sign and correlated it to the Nazi Hakenkreuz (Hooked Cross) sign. But as the war progressed, it became clear that this was a military sign to differentiate its own military platforms from that of Ukraine, which also uses similar weapons and platforms.

Similarly, some military vehicles were seen with the ‘V’ mark. Some experts have opined that these signs are for different theater commands (‘Military District’) of Russia going into the war zone.

Russia Z Symbol
File Image: Russian Troops

But the sign of ‘V’ didn’t become as popular as ‘Z’ in Russia. While traveling in border regions of Russia adjoining Ukraine, the author found that Russians are using the ‘Z’ sign to support Putin in his war against Ukraine (and the US).

People residing in border areas had put this ‘Z’ sign on their personal cars and vehicles. In the Belgorod region, about 60 kilometers from Kharkiv, one can see hoardings and billboards with the symbol of ‘Z’ and written ‘For Putin’ on the roads leading towards Ukraine.

In Crimea, special concerts in support of Putin were organized, and this sign was openly flaunted. Even the national buildings and theatres in Sevastopol had giant banners of ‘Z’ on them.

Crimea was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in the year 2014. Ukraine had surrendered Crimea without firing a single bullet. Russian forces captured vital installations of Ukraine in Crimea without any resistance. Even the Ukraine Navy had surrendered before the Russian special forces.

But the situation has changed after eight years. When Russia attacked Kyiv and other major cities of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukraine Armed Forces not only gave a tough fight to the Russian Army but also routed them by giving a big blow. That means Ukraine had learned its lessons well from the Crimean episode.

Ukrainian military vehicles were seen with the “arrow” mark.

The US and other NATO forces had also actively supported Ukraine post-Crimean capture by Russia. The US and UK trained the Ukrainian Army, making it a professional army that could give a bloody nose to the army of a military superpower (Russia). That’s the primary reason that Ukraine could recapture Kharkiv and Kherson from Russia and also give a tough fight in Bakhmut.

The Ukraine Army has got shot in its arms by receiving large amounts of weapons, tanks, and combat vehicles from the US, UK, and other NATO countries.

The US Department of State states that since January 2021, “the United States has invested more than US$36.1 billion in security assistance to demonstrate enduring and steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”  This includes US$35.4 billion since “Russia launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022.”

A look at the number and kind of weapons supplied by the US to Ukraine in the past year will suggest why Zelensky’s army can give a befitting reply to Putin’s forces:

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