National flag flies over the Russian Central Bank headquarters in Moscow
Reuters

KEY POINTS

  • All participants allegedly received the medals with V and Z symbols
  • The V and Z symbols found in the medals are widely used in pro-war propaganda
  • The medals were reportedly made in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Donetsk

Participants in a Russian karate festival for children received medals allegedly made from fragments of ammunition from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members, according to a report.

Russian media outlet Meduza reported that the organizers of the All-Russian Kyokushinkai Festival in Moscow awarded all participants with medals with Z and V symbols, which are used by Russia's propaganda in the war against Ukraine.

Photos of the medals were initially posted by the Telegram channel Ostorozhno, Moskva ("Moscow, Beware").

"Made by Donetsk blacksmiths using fragments of NATO ammunition," the medals stated in Russian.

The medals claimed that the ammunition used was allegedly fired at "Russian cities," according to Meduza.

Winners reportedly received ordinary medals, while the medals with symbols were distributed to all participants, according to Ostorozhno, Moskva.

Donetsk was one of the four Ukrainian regions that were proclaimed by Moscow as its own in September–an act strongly rejected by Ukraine as some territories in the region were still under Ukraine's control.

Shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine started earlier this year, the symbol Z, which was originally a Russian military marking, was adopted by Russians to show support for the war.

Kremlin-funded state network RT announced on its social media channels that it was selling Z merchandise such as T-shirts and hoodies to show support for Russian troops just a few days after the invasion, according to a report by The Guardian.

Russians were also seen wearing shirts with the symbol Z in numerous flashmobs across the country.

Russian defense analyst Rob Lee suggested that the Z markers were used by Russian forces near the border to identify different task forces.

"It appears Russian forces near the border are painting markers, in this case 'Z,' on vehicles to identify different task forces or echelons. Several Msta-S howitzers, R-149MA1 command-staff vehicles, TOS-1A thermobaric MLRS, MT-LB, and BMP-2 in Belgorod," Lee wrote.

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Russia's Ministry of Defense said in an Instagram post that Z meant Za pobedu ("for victory") and V stood for Sila v pravde ("power is in truth").

Meanwhile, NATO members pledged millions of dollars' worth of air defense systems to Ukraine in the face of continued Russian strikes, including the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from the United States, Aspide from Spain and IRIS-T from Germany.

'Propaganda happens in Russia, where people are told one thing but the truth is something else entirely,' the print works manager says
'Propaganda happens in Russia, where people are told one thing but the truth is something else entirely,' the print works manager says AFP / Aleksey Filippov
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