Zurich Insurance removed its logo with the “Z” symbol from social media after the letter became a symbol of support in Russia for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The company said it would remove the logo — a white “Z” on a blue background — because it didn’t want to be misinterpreted as a supporter of Russia in the conflict.
“We are temporarily removing the use of the letter ‘Z’ in channels where it appears isolated and could be misinterpreted,” the company told Reuters in a statement.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and will take further action if and when necessary,” the company said, following a report by The Telegraph newspaper in the UK.
The letter “Z” has been used as a marking on Russian military vehicles participating in the conflict and has been adopted by citizens who support the war, prominently on flags and at pro-Kremlin rallies.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the “Z” stands for Za pobedu” (for victory).
Moscow describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special military operation”.
Zurich Insurance said earlier this month that it would not accept new domestic customers in Russia and would not renew existing local businesses.
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