Russia Today slammed for selling T-shirts with chilling ‘Z’ symbol seen on Putin’s tanks to support troops in Ukraine
RUSSIA'S state-owned news network has been slammed for selling war "merch".
A social media account for RT, formerly Russia Today, posted a link to the £12 t-shirts, and called for support for "our guys in Ukraine".
The symbol is chillingly identical
The post, from the network's Russian language account, said: "RT has new merch. Let's support our guys in Ukraine.
"We will start sending Z to our friends tomorrow.
"All proceeds from sales will go to help the refugees of Donbass and the heroes of the RT Children of War project."
BBC journalist Francis Scarr, who is working in Moscow, Russia, with the broadcaster's Monitoring team, said: "Nothing to see here. Just Russian state broadcaster @RT_com selling merchandise endorsing the war in Ukraine.
"The painted 'Z' marking has been seen on Russian tanks and armoured vehicles involved in the invasion."
Other Twitter users replied that they were "gobsmacked" and "speechless".
Moscow correspondent for The Guardian, Andrew Roth, said: "I hope that there are RT employees who are disgusted by their employer putting out merchandise for a war in Ukraine.
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"This can't be what you want. If it isn't, step up and say so."
The white "Z" symbol plastered over the shirts has also been spotted on the side of Russian tanks and trucks.
It's thought the chilling symbol helps to distinguish the Russian machines as "Ukrainians have very similar tanks and vehicles and will want to reduce the risk of friendly fire".
The "Z", which is sometimes also spotted inside a white box, has become synonymous with Russian troops currently trying - and failing - to occupy Ukraine, as hero civilians and soldiers fend off the brutes.
It is understood some 3,500 "badly prepared" Russian soldiers have been captured, and Ukrainian troops have of Russian special forces made up of Chechen fighters.
Meanwhile, fierce fighting has been taking place in Kharkiv where Ukrainian commanders say they are in "full control" and a blitz from Russian forces to hold a crucial road junction five miles west of Kyiv city centre was beaten off.
And peace talks are set to begin this evening between Ukraine and Russia this evening - despite Vladimir Putin putting his nuclear forces on high alert.
Diplomats from Kyiv and Moscow are set to meet "without preconditions" near the Prypyat River on the Belarusian border.
Meanwhile, RT has been barred from cashing in on ads on Google's websites and apps.
It follows a similar move by Facebook, after the EU unveiled sanctions on RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan - who was accused og being a "central figure of Russian propaganda".
And critics in the UK have called for Ofcom to crack down on the channel - which the PM said was "doing a lot of damage to the truth".
Asked if the channel should be banned, he said: "We have a principle in this country that we don't allow politicians to ban this or that media organisation.
"And that's the way we do it. And I think we're better for that.
"But I've got to tell you that I think the stuff that RT is peddling at the moment is doing a lot of damage to the truth, and I think it's important that Ofcom should look at it and make up its mind about whether that organisation is infringing the rules of this country."
When it was put to him that it sounded like he would ban it if he had the power to do so, Mr Johnson said: "Yes but the difference between us and Russia is that the power is not with me, and that's the right thing.
"And that, you know, is partly what we're fighting for."
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The channel describes itself as creating "news with an edge for viewers who want to Question More".
It adds: "RT covers stories overlooked by the mainstream media, provides alternative perspectives on current affairs, and acquaints international audiences with a Russian viewpoint on major global events."
