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# Ukraine

## Ukrayina

Last modified: 2026-04-11 by martin karner
Keywords: ukraine | europe | council of europe | central european initiative | oecd | guam |
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## УКРАЇНА

(2:3) image by Zoltan Horvath, 7 December 2024

Official Name: Ukraine (Ukrayina)
Previous Names: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Capital: Kyiv
Flag adopted: 28 January 1992
Coat of Arms adopted: 3 September 1996

- The Flag
  - Colour Shades
  - Long Version
- Legislation
- Previous Provisional Legislation
- Flags with Arms
- Yellow over Blue

- History of the Flag
- Historical Flags (Index)
- State Arms (The Trident)
- Presidential Flag
- Ministers and Government Organizations Flags
- Military Flags
- Military Rank Flags
- Naval Flags
- Naval Rank Flags
- Air Force
- Security Service Flags
- Border Guard Flags
- Police Flags
- Prosecutor General
- State Tax Administration and Custom Service Flags
- Ukrainian Defense Industry
- Political Flags (Index)
  - Unidentified Ukrainian Flags at Demonstrations
- Trade Unions Flags
- Ukrposhta (Postal Flags)
- Railway Flags
- Commercial Flags
- House Flags of Maritime Companies
- Flags of Higher Education Institutions
- Non-Governmental Organizations Flags
- Sport Flags
- Black Sea Cossacks
- Krymchaks
- Ruthenians
- Proposals
- Miscellaneous Flags
- Flags on Stamps of Ukraine
- Clickable Map of Ukraine
- Subnational and Municipal Flags
  - Oblasts (Regions) and Autonomous Republics
  - Municipalities
  - Crimea
  - Galicia

See also:

- Russian invasion of Ukraine (2014/2022 – onwards)
- Russian annexed municipalities
- "Novorossiya Republic"
- Clickable map of Europe

- To the Question of the National Flag (by Andriy Grechylo, 1989, Ukrainian) | English translation (PDF)
- Modern Ukrainian Civic Vexillology (by Andrij Grechylo, ICV 16, 1995)
- The history of the formation and adoption of the state flag of Ukraine (by V.V. Kuksa, 2011)
- What is the history and meaning behind the Ukrainian Flag? (ukraine.ua/BRAND UKRAINE, 2023)
- Everything you didn't know about Ukraine's flag (by Liliane Bivings/kyivindependent.com, 2024)
- Ukrainian Heraldry (heraldry.com.ua, with English version)
- Ukrainian Heraldry (Heraldry of the World)
- "Znak" (=The Sign; Journal of the Ukrainian Heraldry Society [English version])
- Ukrainian Heraldry Society (uht.org.ua, Ukrainian)
- Ukrainian Flags (vexillographia.ru/Victor Lomantsov, Russian)
- What Happened to the Old Ukrainian Flag? (Video by History With Hilbert, 2022)
- Timeline of Ukraine (summarized, detailed)

## The Flag

From www.ukraine.online.com.ua [expired]:
"The Constitution states that the national symbols of Ukraine shall be the National Flag, the National Emblem and the National Anthem.
The Ukrainian flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width. The top is blue, the bottom yellow. Blue and yellow, the colors of the sky, mountains, streams, and golden fields have symbolized Kyivan Rus' long before the introduction of Christianity. With the acceptance of Christianity, blue and gold were incorporated into church symbolism. After the Mongol-Tatar invasion in the 1200's the use of blue/gold was interrupted, to be revived again in church ornaments and city crests some time later. The emblem of the city of Myrhorod, for example, was a gold trident over a blue background. Another city, Pryluky, used the head of an ox in gold over a blue background as its insignia. And in Lubny, the city emblem pictured a hand holding a golden mace over a blue background. The banners of the Cossacks (17th century) were blue with gold stars, a gold cross, or with pictures of saints rendered in gold.
The blue and yellow flag as the national flag of Ukraine by the Supreme Rada in 1992."
Dov Gutterman, 10 July 2000

The blue-yellow flag was firstly displayed in Lviv (Lvov, Lemberg) in 1848. Orenburg, for example, has a blue-yellow CoA too, but it is not in Ukraine. Banners of Cossacks were different: blue, red, dark-red, green and other.
Victor Lomantsov, 10 July 2000

In Sweden there is a story going around, stating that the blue and yellow of Ukraine come from the blue and yellow of Sweden. When King Carl XII of Sweden (he was king 1697–1718) went to war against Peter the Great of Russia, he made allies with the Ukrainians, who wanted sovereignty from Russia. The Ukrainians should therefore have taken up the colours of Sweden as their colours. However, I don't know if there is any truth in this story.
Elias Granqvist, 10 July 2000

Ukrainian state flag was adopted on January 28, 1992 by Decree No 2067-XII of the Verkhovna Rada (=Supreme Council = Parliament). Other dates (January 21, 1992; September 3, 1996) are incorrect. Now the Ministry of Justice prepared new project of law about the State symbols of Ukraine. But it isn't still adopted.
Resolution of September 4, 1991 gave only possibility to use Ukrainian National (blue and yellow) flag during the official ceremonies – before the adopting of new State flag. Please note, in former USSR we had the term "State flag". So, in that case "National flag" was not a "State". But final Decree, named "About the State flag of Ukraine" was adopted on January 28, 1992. Number of Decree is 2067-XII. Official publication in "Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny" (Official bulletin of the Supreme Council of Ukraine) was in No. 19 (1992), article 257.
4 September 1991 is the date when blue and yellow flag was first flew at the building of the Supreme Council in Kyiv (together with flag of the former Ukrainian SSR). But Decree of the Presidium of Supreme Council about using of blue and yellow flag was adopted on September 18, 1991 (No 1567-XII). Literally in text: "Allow to use blue and yellow flag in all official ceremonies until the adopting of Constitution of Ukraine." This Decree doesn't include ratio or other details of the flag. De-facto, it abolished the former State flag of the Ukrainian SSR, and proclaimed a blue and yellow as temporary official flag. Decree of January 28, 1992 proclaimed a blue and yellow as the State flag of Ukraine.
Andriy Grechylo, 24 March 2004

### Colour Shades

Official text say: BLUE (sinij [Rus.], syni [Ukr.]). Unofficially, especially in 1980s, the colour was light-blue (goluboj [Rus], blakitnyj [Ukr]).
Victor Lomantsov, 19 December 2002

According to Album 2000 [pay00] – National Flag and Naval Jack (CSW/CS- 2:3) – Light blue over yellow bicolour.
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2003

Darker or lighter colours of Ukrainian flag haven't any political significance. According the legislations we have SYNIY (blue) and ZHOVTYI (yellow) colours, but our society also accept darker (e.g. marine blue) or lighter (light blue) colours.
Andriy Grechylo, 28 November 2004

In his role as the current President of the Council of Ministers of the European Union, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been touring eastern European capitals to try to resolve the problems with the EU budget. A report on 'The World' last night on BBC4 showed him speaking at a meeting in a location which wasn't specified, but, from the panel on the wall behind him, was clearly connected with Ukraine if not actually in that country. I was struck by the colours of the Ukrainian flag next to the EU flag in this photo.
There may indeed be no political significance to the colours, at least in an internal Ukrainian party sense, but I can't help feeling that their similarity to the dark blue and gold of the EU flag isn't a coincidence!
Andre Coutanche, 2 December 2005

The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012) provides recommendations for national flag designs. Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the official government version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC believed the flag to be.
For Ukraine: PMS 2935 blue and process yellow. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version turned 90 degrees anti-clockwise.
Ian Sumner, 11 October 2012

The colors listed are the official colors according to the state specification "DSTU 4512:2006" that was published by the State Committee for Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy in 2006 (legislation text, in Ukrainian).
Zachary Harden, 6 March 2022

The colors were modified to match the specification "DSTU 4512:2006" (as mentioned above, 6 March 2022). Under Article 11 of the Law of the National Flag of Ukraine, this committee is authorized to publish and enforce technical standards of the national flag (https://ips.ligazakon.net...). The Pantone colors are 2935 C blue and 012 C yellow. For the source document see link in message above (6 March 2022).
Zachary Harden, 6 September 2023 (by e-mail)

The Flag Law defines the flag, but doesn't give any color specification – but:
☞ On behalf of the State Committee for Consumer Standards of Ukraine, the Research Institute of Design of NAU and the Ukrainian Research Institute of Textile Industry determine the color values of the flag:
See https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/ДСТУ_4512:2006 (in Ukrainian, English translation by Google: [PDF]) > They give the Pantone color values 2935 C for blue and 012 C for yellow.
☞ The flag on top of this page is coloured with Pantone 2935 C for blue and 012 C for yellow.
Other sources for colors:

- The Flag Manual – Beijing 2008 gives Pantone colors: PMS 102 (yellow), and PMS 285 (blue).
- The Album des Pavillons 2000 [pay00] (Corr. No. 6.) gives approximate colors in Pantone and CMYK systems:
  Light blue: Pantone 313c; CMYK 100-0-10-10
  Yellow: Pantone 115c; CMYK 0-10-80-0
  Dark blue: Pantone 281c; CMYK 100-70-0-30
  Green: Pantone 335c; CMYK 10-0-70-20
- The Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012 [loc12] gives Pantone colors: PMS 2935 (blue) and PMS Yellow.
- The Album des Pavillons 2023 already specifies the colors of the flags in three color systems:
  Blue: Pantone 281c; CMYK 100-89-34-21; RGB 0-37-105
  Blue: Pantone 313c; CMYK 72-41-0-0; RGB 67-137-221
  Yellow: Pantone 115c; CMYK 9-78-0; RGB 251-222-74
  Green: Pantone 355c; CMYK 85-27-66-13; RGB 0-123-99
- Vexilla Mundi gives colors in Pantone system: PMS 2395C (blue), and PMS 012C (yellow).
- Wikipedia illustrates the flag, and construction details, and gives color values as follows:
  Strong azure: Pantone 2935 C; RAL 5019; RGB 0-87-183; CMYK 100-63-0-2; Hex #0056B9; Websafe #0066CC
  Yellow: Pantone 012 C; RAL 1023; RGB 255-215-0; CMYK 0-2-100-0; Hex #FFD800; Websafe #FFCC00
- Flag Color Codes gives the following color values:
  Blue: Pantone 2935; RAL 5015; RGB 0-87-183; CMYK 100-63-0-2; Hex #0057B7
  Yellow: Pantone Yellow; RAL 1026; RGB 255-221-0; CMYK 0-1-100-0; Hex #FFCD00

Zoltan Horvath, 7 December 2024

### Long Version

(1:2) image by BlinxCat, 25 February 2022

Longer variants of the flag exist too which resemble that of the 8 September 1991 to 28 January 1992 era flag in the post-Soviet era.
BlinxCat, 25 February 2022

## Legislation

The Open Media Research Institute reported that on 3 September 1996 the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) had approved the country's national symbols as specified by the constitution [OMRI, #171, 1996]. Parliament also decided to organise a competition on the design of the state arms and the words of the national anthem. The 'tryzub' (trident) is the state arms, and the competition will decide the details of the design. The new constitution was adopted by Parliament 28 June 1996 (the date was declared a national holiday) and only confirmed the national symbols that were already in use [OMRI, #204, 1996]. OMRI offered no details on the action of the parliament, nor did they give any descriptions of the symbols. Article 20 of the constitution states that the 'The description of the state symbols of Ukraine and the order of their use is determined by law' [IFES]:

"ARTICLE 20.
The state symbols of Ukraine are the State Flag of Ukraine, the State Emblem of Ukraine and the State Anthem of Ukraine. The State Flag of Ukraine is a banner made from two equal horizontal blue and yellow fields. The Great State Emblem of Ukraine shall be determined in accordance with the Small State Emblem of Ukraine and the Emblem of the Zaporiz'ke Viys'ko (Zaporizhzhya Cossacks Army) by law, which shall be adopted by no less than two-thirds of the Constitutional membership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The main element of the Great Emblem of Ukraine is the Sign of the State of Prince Volodymyr the Great (the Small State Emblem of Ukraine). The State Anthem of Ukraine is the national anthem with the music of M.Verbytskiy and words, confirmed by law, which shall be adopted by no less than two-thirds of the constitutional membership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The description of the state symbols of Ukraine and the order of their use is determined by law, adopted by no less than two-thirds of the constitutional membership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The capital of Ukraine is City of Kyiv."

Dov Gutterman, 1999

## Previous Provisional Legislation

image by António Martins, 17 December 2002
proportions: 1:2

Ukraine declared independence from the USSR on 24 August 1991. MPs celebrated the event by carrying a huge light blue and yellow flag through the assembly hall of the Parliament [Ukrainian Weekly, 1996]. Ukrainians approved the independence proclamation in a referendum held 1 December 1991. Provisional legislation [W. Smith, 1992] concerning the flag was adopted on 4 September 1991, with opposition from the Communists. This legislation therefore also made the Soviet era flag official, and the two flags were hoisted side by side (even on the same flag pole). The light blue over yellow flag was in proportions 1:2. The situation was changed 21 January 1992, when the light blue and yellow flag became the only flag of Ukraine. The proportions of the flag were then set to 2:3. The trident arms were adopted on 19 February 1992 [W. Smith, 1992].
Dov Gutterman, 1999

## Flags with Arms

image by J. Patrick Fischer

I saw today in German TV ZDF this variation of Ukrainian national flag with the national symbol in the left upper corner. The flag was on a demonstration against the "results" of the presidential election.
J. Patrick Fischer, 24 November 2004

Today I saw on TV the 1:2-version of this flag. The flag of yesterday has really 3:5. The yellow of the logo is the same as the yellow of the stripe.
J. Patrick Fischer, 25 November 2004

This variation of Ukrainian flag was in project of the New Constitution (1997). But finally the Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) accepted our proposal – without image in the left upper corner. So, some people use variations of national flag (with Trident at shield or with Trident) during holidays, meetings etc.
Andriy Grechylo, 25 November 2004

I have taken a couple of photos of the Ukrainian demonstration in Munich on 7 Feb 2015. [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FLAGS/photos/albums/730714280 – link expired]

In addition to the plain bicolour there were several versions of the national flag either with the plain trident or with the trident in a shield:

1. golden trident in the canton
2. shield with golden trident in the canton
3. yellow outlined trident in canton, blue inscription of UKRAINA (in Cyrillic capital letters) in the lower stripe (small flag)
4. golden trident in the centre of the flag
5. shield with yellow trident in the centre of the flag
6. shield (fimbriated white) with yellow trident in the centre of the flag (picture, source | picture, source; loc. by P. Bassinson/M. Karner)
7. shield (fimbriated white) with yellow trident in the centre of the flag; blue inscription of UKRAINE (in Latin capital letters) in the lower stripe

M. Schmöger, 8 February 2015

On this page [picture not retrievable] a variant of the flag of Ukraine is shown with an incorrect version of coat of arms in canton: the colors are reversed and a white border added all around.
Tomislav Todorovic, 4 August 2015

image by Tomislav Todorovic

Another variant of the national flag containing the national emblem, also known as the "Tryzub".
Tomislav Todorovic, 4 March 2022

### Sources of Information

- OMRI, #171, 1996: Open Media Research Institute, Daily Digest, Vol. 2, No. 171 , 4 September 1996
- OMRI, #204, 1996: Analytical Brief, Vol. 1, No 204, 28 June 1996 (Open Media Research Institute publication)
- IFES: 'The Constitution of Independent Ukraine', English translation by International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES)
- Ukrainian Weekly, 1996: 18th August, (Vol. LXIV, No. 33).
- W. Smith, 1992: 'New Symbols, names, and state structures in the former USSR. Part II: Kalmykia through Zelenchuk-Urupsk', Flag Bulletin, No. 149, 1992. [smi92p]
- Encyclopedia of Ukraine
- Flag Bulletin, 1992: No 149 incorrectly states that the convention took place in 1844.
- Ukraine: A Concise Encyclopaedia: Volume 3: National emblems, Toronto, 1963, pp. 31-36
- Bohdan Krawchenko, 1990: 'National memory in Ukraine: The Role of the Blue and Yellow Flag', Journal of Ukrainian Studies, Vol. 15, No. 1, 1990, pp. 1–21. [krw90]
- www.tryzub.com
- Info-bulletin: No. 91, 1996.

### Flag robbery caught on camera, or: Never steal a flag from a non-existent man

still image from video, located by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg

The 5th of May 2023 version of "Break the Fake" (video [retrieved, watch at 0:25]; see also here) starts with showing how a representative of Russia does his utmost to demonstrate that Ukraine does not exist [Assembly of Black Sea Economic Cooperation, May 4–5, Ankara]. To this end, he grasps the flag the non-existent representative of Ukraine holds, and runs away with it before anyone can react. Not having thought through the theft, he finds that he can not get away quickly enough because he is indoors, and he is quite quickly overtaking by a non-existent representative, who "angrily takes back the flag". Apart from the relative speeds of a thief and a non-existent Ukrainian, the incident is also noticeable for the flag in question having Tryzub arms on it (still image). Not that in itself this is something impossible, but I don't know whether/where we have that one, and whether we mention it is used by representatives of Ukraine.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 6 May 2023

Indeed we don't have an image with exactly this flag yet (which doesn't mean we don't want it for our ws). One reason is that this kind of national flags are not official, an other reason: There are lots of variants of the national flag with any sort of the trident. On this page we have two depictions and several variants reported in written form (see above).
The official national emblems are the bicolour national flag (without device) and the State Arms with the trident (Tryzub). Having said this, there are of course numerous official flags, like the Presidential flags and standards and ministerial and government organizations flags, displaying the trident in various combinations.
There is also an unofficial merger flag at 1:51 in the video (picture, picture). It's a merger of the national flag and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army flag (1942–56).

Martin Karner, 6 May 2023

See also: TRIDENT in Dictionary of Vexillology

## Yellow over Blue

image by Tomislav Todorovic

The flag with yellow above blue is much promoted by nationalist movements as the "true" flag of Ukraine, with its origins being claimed as early as in the 19the century. It is also meant to be the flag of a "new" Ukraine, which would terminate the continuity with the "bad past" (the quotation marks used here because there may be no absolute consensus on what this "new" Ukrainian identity would actually mean).
Sources:
[1] Time for Action website:
https://timeforaction.in.ua/zhovto-blakytnyj-prapor-symvol-ukrayin/ [not retrievable]
[2] Time for Action website:
https://timeforaction.in.ua/zhovto-blakytnyj-prapor-peremogy-prap/ [not retrievable]
[3] Change the Flag website:
https://www.prapor.info/

Tomislav Todorovic, 4 March 2022