FLAG OF UKRAINE: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of Ukraine consists of two stripes of equal dimensions, distributed horizontally on the flag. The upper stripe is blue, while the lower stripe is yellow.

The flag of Ukraine was created in 1917. However, throughout the twentieth century its banner has changed, in large part, due to its incorporation into the Soviet Union. In 1991, after regaining independence, Ukraine regained the original flag.

Flag of Ukraine. Government of Ukraine

The origin of the Ukrainian national flag is given during its struggle for independence. Beyond a few minor modifications, it has not changed significantly since its inception over 100 years ago.

History

Flag of the Ukrainian State after the Russian Empire and the Habsburg Monarchy (1917 - 1920)

The Ukrainian bicolor flew for the first time in the territory of what is now the country in 1917. By this time, Ukraine was in a constant state of struggle against the Russian Empire to separate itself from it; Ukrainian nationalist troops used the two-colored flag to show their support for the separation of the country.

In addition, the bicolor was waved for the first time and officially in Petrograd, in the same 1917, when a demonstration of more than 20,000 people took the streets of the city to support the independence movement of the nation.

During this movement, the presence of different flags could be appreciated. Some had the blue stripe at the top, while others had the yellow stripe above the blue. The tones of some flags also varied, but it was difficult to define exactly which was the most popular of all.

In fact, although there is no clear record of this, there are those who claim that the flag was made official to be the national standard of the People's Republic of Ukraine, as part of the independence movement. Although the veracity of these events is not exactly known, Ukrainian politicians did demonstrate their support for the use of this flag.

Ukrainian State Flag (1918 - 1920). Alex Tora

Flag of the Republic of Soviet Ukrainians (1917 - 1918)

The Republic of Soviet Ukrainians was a short-lived country that existed after the decision of Congress to create the country and join Soviet Russia. A flag similar to that of the Union was adopted, but with the national flag of Ukraine and the country's initials written in Cyrillic on the canton part of the flag.

The country did not have longevity, in large part, because of the outcome of the First World War. When Russia signed the Brest-Litovsk agreement, it ceded control of the Baltic states to the Germans and officially recognized the independence of Ukraine.

Officially, this part of Ukrainian territory joined the Ukrainian Soviet Republic in 1918, but the lack of popular support caused the country to be liquidated and simply unified with the rest of Ukraine, becoming part of the Soviet Union.

Flag of the Republic of Soviet Ukrainians (1917 - 1918). I Gauravjuvekar vectorized the above file.

Flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic (1918)

The Ukrainian Soviet Republic was created after a vote in late 1917, in which Ukraine was recognized as the Republic of Ukraine, a name that was later changed to the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. This is considered one of the fundamental steps for the birth of the Soviet Union, as the Ukrainian congress decided to ally itself closely with Russia.

The state officially came into existence after the signing of the Brest-Litovsk treaty, when all Ukrainian politicians and people who supported Russia decided to form the Ukrainian Soviet Republic.

The country went on to become, along with Russia, a co-founder of the Soviet Union. The Ukrainian troops, which by then were known as the Red Cossack Army, became an integral part of the Union and the military force that makes it up. The first flag was completely red.

Flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic (1918). burts

First flag of Soviet Ukraine (1919 - 1929)

With the formalization of the creation of the USSR, Ukraine began to adopt a flag with the YCCP inscription in its canton. These are the Cyrillic initials of "Ukrayinskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Sovetskaya Respublika", which in Spanish means Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The flag with the initials in the canton became a common design of the national banners of the various Soviet nations during the Union period.

First flag of Soviet Ukraine (1919 - 1929). Alex: D

Second flag of Soviet Ukraine (1929 - 1937)

The only change made to the flag in 1929 was to the design of the letters, but there were no significant changes beyond this. It remained in force for less than ten years, until the first real alteration of the pavilion.

Second flag of Soviet Ukraine (1929 - 1937). Guilherme Paula

Third flag of Soviet Ukraine (1937 - 1949)

This was the first flag of Soviet Ukraine to have the hammer and sickle in its design. The shape of the letters was changed and the dots that separated each one were eliminated. Above them, in addition, the symbolic emblem that came to represent the Soviet Union and that today is the symbol of the USSR and communism was incorporated.

Third flag of Soviet Ukraine (1937 - 1949). SeNeKa

Fourth flag of Soviet Ukraine (1949 - 1991)

This was the last flag used by Ukraine during the Soviet period. It remained in force from 1949 until the collapse of the union. It had a red stripe at the top and a smaller blue stripe at the bottom. She had the hammer and sickle with a red gold-edged star on them, demonstrating the strength of the union.

Fourth flag of Soviet Ukraine (1949 - 1991). Flag not copyrighted. Public domain.

Current flag of Ukraine (since 1991)

With the perestroika movement and the influence of Gorbachev within the Soviet Union, many member countries of the union began to strengthen their national identity. This led to the eventual collapse of the USSR, as each country was leaving behind its membership of the Union until all separated from it.

Ukraine once again became an independent country in 1991, when it also adopted the flag of the early 20th century, but with a darker blue tone than the original.

Current flag of Ukraine (1991 - Present). Government of Ukraine

Meaning

The blue color of the flag was adopted to represent peace, while yellow represents prosperity. The simplistic design of the Ukrainian flag does not detract from the historical importance of the banner, as for Ukrainians, it is a representation of the struggle for independence and has a marked symbolism of freedom.

References

1. Flag of Ukraine, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
2. History of Ukraine, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
3. Flag of Ukraine, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018. Taken from Britannica.com
4. Meaning of the Flag of Ukraine, World Atlas Website, (nd). Taken from worldatlas.com
5. Ukraine Flag, Flag Makers UK Website, (nd). Taken from flagmakers.co.uk