What Is the New Symbol Appearing on Russian Military Equipment?

A new tactical symbol appearing on Russian tanks and armored vehicles involved in the ongoing offensive near Kharkiv, Ukraine suggest a significant scale-up in Russia's military activities, according to the open-source intelligence monitor OSINT Defender.

The previously unseen symbol consists of a central square with two overlapping diagonal crosses. This marking has started to appear on Russian equipment over the last several days.

OSINT Defender reports that the new symbol could be related to Russia's renewed border offensive in northeast Ukraine. Russian armored assault groups are attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses, particularly around Vovchansk, where Russian forces have been spotted entering the border town.

In conflict zones, symbols like these primarily serve as identification friend or foe (IFF) measures, a way to prevent friendly fire. The most prominent marking has been the 'Z' that appeared on many Russian armored vehicles early after the invasion in 2022 and went on to become something of a symbol for Russians to show support for the war effort.

"Markings are crucial in combat to distinguish between friendly and enemy vehicles, especially in conflicts like the one in Ukraine where both sides might use similar equipment," said Michael Pursell, a retired U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel who now teaches at George Washington University.

The Russian military introduced district symbols on its armored vehicles shortly before the 2022 invasion. According to Russo-Ukrainian Warspotting, a database website of the conflict run by volunteers, each Russian military district, along with Russia-aligned militia in Donbas, has been assigned distinct signs.

The website has tracked more than 10 different symbols used by the Russian army on the battlefield, including the white 'Z.' There have been cases where some Russian vehicles bore signs of districts they don't belong to.

"Adaptations to markings may be made to improve clarity and effectiveness, including considerations for drone visibility. But in this case, it seems that the implementation has never been particularly meticulous," Pursell told Newsweek.

As Ukraine awaits a much-needed influx of U.S. military aid, Russian forces have launched a renewed push into Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said, adding that Kyiv's military was rushing additional resources to the northeastern border. According to Ukrainian officials, Moscow has made "tactically significant gains" in areas of the northeast region, where Kyiv has fewer defenses.

Kharkiv—which has been under persistent Russian bombardment for weeks—is Ukraine's second-largest city. Capturing it would be a significant advance for Russia, although it remains unclear whether Moscow intends to launch a full-scale assault on the region.

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