In Tatar and Russian folklore, the winged dragon associated with Kazan is Zilant.
Zilant is a legendary creature connected with the origin stories of Kazan. It is often depicted as a winged serpent or dragon with birdlike and reptilian features. One tradition says that the creature lived on or near Zilantaw Hill and was defeated after a struggle involving the city’s founder or ruler.
The exact details vary because the legend combines local Tatar traditions with later European-style heraldic imagery. Zilant eventually became an important emblem of Kazan and appears in the city’s coat of arms. Modern representations commonly show a golden or silver dragon-like creature with wings and a crowned head.
Zilant is not the same as Zmey Gorynych, the three-headed dragon of Russian epic folklore. Its strongest geographic association is specifically with Kazan.