Russian Nuclear Submarine Knyaz Vladimir Spotted With 'Z' Insignia; Sparks Concern

A Russian nuclear submarine was spotted with a "Z" marking in the Arctic Sea, sparking apprehensions among analysts that the Ukraine war may not just be a local affair.

Images of the Borei-A class submarine, Knyaz Vladimir, with the notorious war insignia on its sail are doing rounds, according to naval defense analyst H I Sutton.

This comes as a Borei-A sub was recently seen at the missile loading pier at Severomorsk, near Murmansk. So, it is likely that the submarine Knyaz Vladimir was fully armed with Bulava missiles while sporting the "Z," Sutton wrote in a piece that appeared in Naval News.

Knyaz Vladimir is the first modernized Borei-A submarine and can carry 16 Bulava ballistic missiles with a range of over 8,000 kilometers (4,971 miles). It has been designed for eliminating the enemy’s strategic land targets and for tactical missions, especially antisurface and antisubmarine operations.

Russia has never shied away from using nuclear threats to deter NATO and the West from coming to Ukraine's aid. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow "will use nuclear weapons to defend its sovereignty."

The "Z" insignia, now a symbol for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is used among Russian troops invading Ukraine from the South, mainly from Crimea. Other insignia used by Russia include 'O’, ‘V’ and "Z" inside a box, but it is the "Z" that garnered the world's attention. The letter "Z" is also spotted on cars, buildings and murals, supporting the war in Russia.

For the same reason, many believe the cryptic marking is just a "sign of support". However, there are apprehensions about whether it was etched on the submarine officially or just a crew's initiative.

According to Sutton, either way it sends a message that the Ukraine war is not only a local affair.

However, no one Russian submarine has ever been spotted with the "Z" insignia, including the two which have been sent to the Baltic Sea. According to Sutton, this could be because the move would be viewed as "too provocative."

Meanwhile, the Russian Navy has pressed into service the world's longest-known submarine, the Belgorod, which many claims would be "a platform for espionage and possibly nuclear weapons."

According to media reports, the Belgorod was turned over to the Russian Navy earlier this month in the port of Severodvinsk. The modified version of Russia's Oscar II class guided-missile submarines, Belgorod is custom-made to accommodate the world's first nuclear-armed stealth torpedoes. The analyst said Belgorod's induction could set the stage for another Cold War under the war with American and Russian submarines tracking and hunting each other.