View source for Flag of Ukraine

{{short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Ukraine
| Article = 
| Image = Flag of Ukraine.svg
| Use = 111110
| Symbol = {{FIAV|111110}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Vertical normal}}
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption = {{start date and age|1918|03|22|df=y}} (officially adopted)<br />{{start date and age|1991|08|24|df=y}} (''de facto'' restored)<br />{{start date and age|1992|01|28|df=y}} (officially restored, current design)
| Design = A horizontal [[bicolour (flag)|bicolour]] of blue and yellow
| Nickname2 = Sky-blue version
| Image2 = Flag of Ukraine (1917–1921).svg
| Imagetext2 = {{FIAV|variant}} The sky-blue version that was used from 1917 to 1921 and later was reintroduced in 1992; it is still in widespread use next to the current darker version which was introduced in 2006.<ref name="Commonwealth">{{cite AV media
 | title = Signing the Agreement to eliminate the USSR and establish the Commonwealth of Independent States
 | url = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RIAN_archive_848095_Signing_the_Agreement_to_eliminate_the_USSR_and_establish_the_Commonwealth_of_Independent_States.jpg
}}</ref><ref name="Olympics">{{cite web
 | url     = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gct_B5aNITY&t=1310s
 | title   = Figure Skating Drama – Part 2 – The Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Film
 | website = youtube.com
 | date = 19 November 2014
 | language    = en
}}</ref><ref name="flag-day-2016">{{cite web
 | url     = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qZT3GweoWc&t=180
 | title   = Церемонія підняття Прапора України у місті Львові
 | website = youtube.com
 | language    = uk
    | date    = 2016-08-23
}}</ref><ref name="flag-day-2017">{{cite web
 | url     = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpd-9RN52-k
 | title   = Урочиста церемонія підняття Державного Прапора України 23.08.17
 | website = youtube.com
 | language    = uk
    | date    = 2017-08-23
}}</ref><ref name="flag-day-2019">{{cite web
 | url     = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN61XkqastM
 | title   = ДЕРЖАВНИЙ ПРАПОР УКРАЇНИ ПІДНЯТО У ЛЬВОВІ
 | website = youtube.com
 | language    = uk
    | date    = 2019-08-23
}}</ref><ref name="flag-day-2021">{{cite web
 | url     = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_HVYHu7qkU&t=18
 | title   = У Вінниці підняли найбільший в області Державний прапор України
 | website = youtube.com
 | language    = uk
    | date    = 2021-08-23
}}</ref>
| Image3 = Naval Ensign of Ukraine.svg
| Nickname3 = Naval ensign
| Use3 = 000001
| Symbol3 = {{FIAV|000001}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Mirror}}
| Adoption3 = 20 June 2006
| Proportion3 = 2:3
| Design3 = White with a blue Saint George's cross that extends to the edges of the flag, with the national bicolour in the canton.
}}

The [[national flag]] of [[Ukraine]] ({{langx|uk|Державний прапор України|Derzhavnyi prapor Ukrainy}}, {{IPA|uk|derˈʒɑu̯nɪj ˈprɑpor ʊkrɐˈjinɪ|pron}}) consists of equally sized horizontal bands of blue and yellow.

The blue and yellow bicolor flag was first seen during the 1848 [[Revolutions of 1848|Spring of Nations]] in [[Lviv|Lemberg]] (Lviv), the capital of the [[Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria]] within the [[Austrian Empire]]. It was later adopted as a state flag by the short-lived [[Ukrainian People's Republic]], the [[West Ukrainian People's Republic]], and the [[Ukrainian State]] following the [[Russian Revolution]].

In March 1939, it was also adopted by [[Carpatho-Ukraine]]. However, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, the use of the bicolor flag was banned, and it was replaced by the [[flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic]]. This flag featured a red background, with an azure bottom and a golden hammer and sickle, along with a golden-bordered red star on top. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the bicolor flag gradually returned to use before being officially adopted again on 28 January 1992 by the [[Ukrainian parliament]].

Ukraine has celebrated the [[Day of the National Flag (Ukraine)|Day of the National Flag]] on 23 August since 2004.

==Design==
[[Law of Ukraine (legislation)|Ukrainian law]] states that the colours of the Ukrainian flag are "blue and yellow", but other state bodies have determined the colours. In the table below, the colours are presented according to DSTU 4512:2006 technical specifications:<ref name="Kuz">{{cite web |last1=Kuzemska |first1=N. |title=ДСТУ 4512:2006. Державний прапор України. Загальні технічні умови |url=https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/ДСТУ_4512:2006 |website=uk.wikisource.org |publisher=Research Institute of Design of NAU, Ukrainian Research Institute of Textile Industry |access-date=9 March 2022 |page=|trans-title=DSTU 4512:2006. National flag of Ukraine. General technical conditions |language=uk |date=2006}}</ref> (The [[Government of Ukraine|Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine]] made this standard mandatory for [[military funeral]] flags in 2021.)<ref>{{cite web |title=Про затвердження Порядку виготовлення Державного Прапора України |trans-title=On the Approval of the Rules for the Production of the State Flag of Ukraine |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1081-2021-%D0%BF#Text |publisher=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=3 March 2024 |language=uk}}</ref>
[[File:Flag of Ukraine (construction sheet).svg|250px|center]]
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%; background:#F9F9F9; border:1px solid #AA; border-collapse:collapse; white-space:nowrap; text-align:left;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"
|- style="text-align: center; background: #eee"
! Scheme
!style="background:#0057B7;color:white"| Strong azure
! style="background:#FFD700;"| Yellow
|-
| [[Pantone]]
|Pantone Coated 2935 C<ref name = "Kuz" />
|Pantone Coated Yellow 012 C<ref name ="Kuz" />
|-
| [[RAL colour standard|RAL]]
| 5019 Azure
| 1023 Gold (golden)
|-
| [[RGB color model]]
| 0, 87, 183<ref name="pantone2935">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/2935-C|title=PANTONE® 2935 C – Find a Pantone Color &#124; Quick Online Color Tool &#124; Pantone|website=www.pantone.com|access-date=4 June 2020|archive-date=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715225224/https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/2935-C|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 255, 215, 0<ref name="pantone012">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/Yellow-012-C|title=PANTONE® Yellow 012 C – Find a Pantone Color &#124; Quick Online Color Tool &#124; Pantone|website=www.pantone.com|access-date=4 June 2020|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526233543/https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/Yellow-012-C|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[CMYK]]
| 100, 63, 0, 2<ref name="pantone2935" />
| 0, 2, <!--100-->98, 0<ref name="pantone012" />
|-
| [[Hex triplet|HEX]]
| #<!--0056B9-->0057B7<ref name="pantone2935" />
| #<!--FFD800-->FFD700<ref name="pantone012" />
|-
| [[Websafe colors|Websafe]]
| #0066CC{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
| #FFCC00{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
|}

There has been disagreement over the shade of blue used in the flag. Both dark blue ({{langx|uk|синій}}) and sky blue ({{langx|uk|блакитний}}) flags were historically used. When the flag was approved in 1992, the dark blue colour was chosen over sky blue for practical reasons: sky blue flags fade very quickly in the sun. Although the official standard was introduced in 2006, some manufacturers keep producing flags that do not match the standard.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Martynnyk |first1=Bohdanna |title=Як комуністи ледь не зіпсували наш синьо-жовтий стяг – Спецтема |url=https://expres.online/spetstema-2/yak-komunisti-led-ne-zipsuvali-nash-sino-zhovtiy-styag |publisher=Ekspres |date=23 August 2020 |access-date=3 March 2024 |language=uk |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303232525/https://expres.online/spetstema-2/yak-komunisti-led-ne-zipsuvali-nash-sino-zhovtiy-styag |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{gallery
| mode = nolines
| whitebg = y
| align = center

| Ukrainian independence poster (1917).jpg
| A Ukrainian independence poster (1917)

| Leonid Kadenyuk.jpg
| [[Leonid Kadenyuk]] at [[NASA]]; note different shades of blue on the patch and on the flag behind (1997)

| Ukraine Solidarity Vigil (51916566465).jpg
| [[Maryland State House]] Ukraine Solidarity Vigil; note different shades of blue and yellow (2022)

| Securing Our Future (UK pic) 2025-03-02-14-19-A.jpg
| The Ukrainian flag being decorated at a 2025 conference of European leaders with a relatively light shade of blue, especially when being compared to other European national flags

| Bill Clinton at the U.S. Department of State on September 26, 2023 in Washington, D.C. 22 (cropped).jpg
| [[Bill Clinton]] with a Ukrainian [[lapel pin]] flag attached to his suit

| Non-EU-section-with-UA.svg
| The strip of the vehicle registration plate
}}

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100

| Flag of Ukraine (1917–1921).svg
| The sky-blue version of the flag of Ukraine<ref name="Commonwealth"/><ref name="Olympics" /><ref name="flag-day-2016" /><ref name="flag-day-2017" /><ref name="flag-day-2019" /><ref name="flag-day-2021" />
| Flag of Ukraine.svg
| {{FIAV|normal}} Flag of Ukraine with the shades introduced in 2006
}}

The flag is similar to that of the [[States of Austria|Austrian state]] of [[Lower Austria]], the [[Germany|German]] city of [[Chemnitz]], historical [[Flag of Dalmatia|Kingdom of Dalmatia]] (now Croatia) and the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] city of [[Pécs]], but all of those flags have a darker shade of blue. The flag is also somewhat similar to that of the [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|Malaysian state]] of [[Flag and coat of arms of Perlis|Perlis]] and the [[England|English]] county of [[Flag of County Durham|Durham]] (without the cross), but has a reversed colour arrangement, lighter shades of blue and yellow, and a different [[aspect ratio]].

==Protocol and use==
{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2017}}<!--only Legal status section has citations-->

Article 20 of the [[Constitution of Ukraine]] states that "the State Flag of Ukraine is a banner of two equally sized horizontal bands of blue and yellow colour." ({{langx|uk|"Державний Прапор України — стяг із двох рівновеликих горизонтальних смуг синього і жовтого кольорів."|link=no}}).<ref name="constitution_article">{{Cite web|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine|title=Constitution of Ukraine – Wikisource, the free online library|website=en.wikisource.org}}</ref><ref name=constitution_official_uk>{{cite web |url=http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254%D0%BA/96-%D0%B2%D1%80 |script-title=uk:Конституція України |language=uk |website=Верховна Рада України}}</ref>

[[File:Hanging flag of Ukraine.svg|thumb|upright=0.25|Hanging version of the Ukrainian flag]]
In addition to the normal horizontal format, many public buildings, such as the [[Verkhovna Rada]], use vertical flags. Most town halls fly their town flag together with the national flag in this way; some town flags in Ukraine exist only in vertical form. The proportions of these vertical flags are not specified<!-- (commented out until supporting evidence can be found), although a ratio of 5:2 is the most common-->. When hung like a banner or draped, the blue band should be on the left. When flown from a vertical flagpole, the blue band must face the mast.

The flag did not appear on [[Postage stamps and postal history of Ukraine|Ukrainian postal stamp]] issues until 1992, when they depicted the flag with the state coat of arms. Since then, the flag has frequently appeared on stamps. [[Cinderella stamp]]s of the [[Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists]] were printed outside Ukraine during the Soviet period for patriotic purposes.

===Decoration===
Traditionally, the flag may be decorated with a [[gold (color)|golden]] [[Fringe (trim)|fringe]] surrounding the perimeter of the flag, as long as it does not deface the flag proper. The tradition began with the [[flag of the Ukrainian SSR]]. In addition, the ''[[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]]'' shows a flag decorated with a gold star. Ceremonial displays of the flag, such as those in parades or on indoor posts, often use a fringe to enhance the allure of the flag. No specific law governs the use of the fringe. Traditionally, the [[Ukrainian Ground Forces|Army]], [[National Guard of Ukraine|Guard]], [[Ukrainian Navy|Navy]] and [[Ukrainian Air Force|Air Force]] use a fringed flag for [[military parade|parades]], [[colour guard]]s and indoor displays, while the [[President of Ukraine|Office of the President]] and local authorities use a fringed flag on all occasions.

===Places of continuous display===
Ukrainian flags are customarily displayed continuously in certain locations.
* [[Maidan Nezalezhnosti]], main square of [[Kyiv]], traditional site for political rallies, including large-scale radical protest campaigns ([[Orange Revolution]] and [[Euromaidan]])
* [[Presidential Administration Building (Kyiv)|Presidential Administration Building]], [[Verkhovna Rada building]] and [[Government Building, Kyiv|Government Building]]
* [[Kyiv City Council]]
* [[Lviv High Castle]]
* [[Vernadsky Research Base]]
* [[State Border Guard Service of Ukraine]] sites
* National, regional and local government buildings
* [[Diplomatic missions of Ukraine|Ukrainian embassies and consulates]]

===Particular days for display===
The flag is hoisted up to its full staff on the following days:
* 1 January: [[New Year's Day]]
* 7 January: [[Christmas#Date according to Julian calendar|Christmas (Julian)]]
* 22 January: Ukrainian Unity and Freedom Day
* 8 March: International Women's Day
* 1 & 2 May: [[International Workers' Day]]
* 8 May: [[Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945|Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism]]
* 28 June: [[Constitution Day (Ukraine)|Constitution Day]]
* 23 August: [[Day of the National Flag (Ukraine)|Flag Day]]
* 24 August: [[Independence Day of Ukraine|Independence Day]]
* 13 October: [[Defenders Day (Ukraine)|Defenders of Ukraine Day]]
* 21 November: Day of Dignity and Freedom
* 6 December: Armed Forces Day
* 25 December: Christmas (Gregorian/Neo-Julian)

===Display at half-staff===
The flag is displayed at [[Half-mast|half-staff]] (or half-mast) as a sign of respect or [[mourning]]. When done nationwide, such a step is proclaimed by the president. Half-mast means flying a flag two-thirds of the way up a flagpole; the top of the flag must be at least a flag's height from the top of the flagpole. Black ribbons indicate mourning on banners that can not be lowered to half-mast.
* 4th Saturday of November: [[Holodomor Memorial Day]]
* Other historical cases: mass victims of accidents, [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] and [[Euromaidan]]; [[death and state funeral of Lech and Maria Kaczyński]], [[Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II|funeral of Pope John Paul II]] and [[September 11 attacks]].

==Flag Day==
[[File:Ukrflagblue.jpg|thumbnail|right|The flag of Ukraine at [[Kyiv]] City Hall]]
{{main|Day of the National Flag (Ukraine)}}

The Day of the National Flag in Ukraine is celebrated on 23 August; it began in 2004.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-08/23/c_131803737.htm Ukraine celebrates National Flag Day] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007221207/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-08/23/c_131803737.htm |date=October 7, 2013 }}, [[Xinhua News Agency]] (August 23, 2012)<br />[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/ceremony-of-hoisting-ukraines-national-flag-held-a-111423.html Ceremony of hoisting Ukraine's national flag held at presidential administration], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (August 23, 2011)<br />[http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/ukrayina-vidznachaye-den-derzhavnogo-prapora.html Україна відзначає День Державного прапора "On Tuesday, August 23, all of Ukraine celebrates National Flag Day. Measures to raise the national flag are planned throughout the country."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801033729/http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/ukrayina-vidznachaye-den-derzhavnogo-prapora.html |date=1 August 2013 }}, [[1+1 (channel)|1+1]] (August 23, 2011)</ref> Previously, 24 July was National Flag Day in Kyiv. The first ceremonial raising of the yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flag in modern times took place on 24 July 1990, at the flagstaff of the Kyiv City Council, two years before the flag was officially adopted as the National flag. Since 1992, the [[Independence Day of Ukraine]] has been celebrated on 24 August. Following a government decree, the flag must be flown from public buildings on this date and certain other holidays; not all are public holidays. Flags must also be flown on parliamentary election days and regional-specific flag days. The public display of flags to mark other events, such as the election of the president or the death of a prominent politician (whereupon flags are flown at half-mast), can be declared at the discretion of the [[Cabinet of ministers of Ukraine|Cabinet of Ministers]]. When flags are flown at half-mast, vertical flags are not lowered. A black mourning ribbon is instead attached, either atop the mast if hung from a pole, or to each end of the flag's supporting cross-beams if flown like a banner.
{{clear}}

==History==
{{off topic|date=November 2022}}
[[File:Ilja Jefimowitsch Repin - Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks - Yorck.jpg|thumb|Cossack flags depicted in ''[[Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks]]'' by [[Ilya Repin]], 1880–1891]]
[[File:Flag colors.jpg|thumb|Typical agricultural landscape of Ukraine in the [[Kherson Oblast]]]]
[[File:Наймолодший путник Нусьо Дорожинський з паломницьким прапором.jpg|thumb|A boy carrying a blue-yellow flag with the Ruthenian lion in the middle during the Ruthenian pilgrimage to the Holy Land, 1906]]
The roots of Ukrainian national symbols come from pre-Christian times when yellow and blue prevailed in traditional ceremonies, reflecting fire and water.<ref name=Saprykov>{{cite web|url=http://geraldika.ru/symbols/3334|script-title=ru:Флаг Украины|trans-title=Flag of Ukraine|language=ru|first=V.|last=Saprykov|website=geraldika.ru|date=May 30, 2003|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> The most solid proof of yellow and blue colours can be traced back as far as the [[Battle of Grunwald]] in 1410, in which militia formations from the [[Ruthenian Voivodeship]] participated.

Blue-yellow, red-black, crimson-olive and especially raspberry colour banners were widely used by [[Cossack|Ukrainian Cossack]]s between the 16th and 18th centuries. These were not the only possible combinations, since normally Cossacks would fly their [[hetman]]'s banners, which were similar to the coats of arms of the nobility. Also, yellow and blue were the colours common on coats of arms in [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]]. In fact, the coat of arms of [[Lviv]] to this day remains a golden lion on a blue field.

Some put the starting point of the adoption of the current national flag of Ukraine to 1848 when, during the [[The Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas|Spring of Nations]] on 22 April 1848, a blue-and-yellow banner was adopted by the [[Supreme Ruthenian Council]]<ref name=istpravda>{{Cite web|title=Синьо-жовтий чи жовто-блакитний? Міфи про "перевернутий" прапор (Blue-yellow or yellow-blue? Myths about the flipped flag) |url=https://www.istpravda.com.ua/articles/2014/01/14/140850/ |date=14 January 2014 |access-date=2022-03-04|website=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] Історична правда}}</ref> in Lemberg ([[Lviv]]), the capital of the [[Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria]] (a [[crownland]] of the [[Austrian Empire]]). On 25 June 1848 two blue and yellow banners flew over the [[Lviv Town Hall|city's magistrate (Rathaus)]] for the first time.<ref name="prapora32474039RFE"/> It is unknown who hang the banners and the Austrian authorities dissociated themselves from this action, as did the [[Supreme Ruthenian Council]] itself.<ref name="prapora32474039RFE"/> The banners hung for almost a week.<ref name="prapora32474039RFE"/> At the request of the Supreme Ruthenian Council, on 15 May 1849 a yellow-and-blue flag hang again on the Rathaus, this time for one day.<ref name="prapora32474039RFE">{{cite news|date=25 June 2023|title=175 років тому у Львові на ратуші замайорів синьо-жовтий прапор – як національний символ українців|trans-title=175 years ago in Lviv on the town hall of the Zamayors a blue-yellow flag – as a national symbol of Ukrainians|work=[[Radio Free Europe]]|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/prapor-symvolika-ratusha-nacija/32474039.html|access-date=23 August 2024|language=Ukrainian}}</ref> Although this move did not have significant consequences, the newly formed Ukrainian divisions in the [[Imperial-Royal Landwehr]] of the [[Austro-Hungarian Army]] used blue-and-yellow banners in their insignia.

During the [[Revolution of 1905|Russian Revolution of 1905]], this flag was used by Ukrainians of the [[Dnieper Ukraine]].

{{gallery items|width=180|class=center
|[[File:Alex K Halych-Volhynia-flag.svg|180x100px]]|{{FIAV|reconstructed}} Flag of the [[Kingdom of Ruthenia]]
|[[File:Alex K Grundwald flags 1410-05.svg|180x100px]]|{{FIAV|reconstructed}} Flags of the [[Lwów land]] banner during the [[Battle of Grunwald]], 1410
|[[File:Flag of the Zaporizhian Sich.svg|180x100px|border]]|{{FIAV|normal}}{{FIAV|twosided}} Banner of the [[Zaporizhian Sich]] before 1775
|[[File:Flag of the Cossack Hetmanate.svg|180x100px]]|{{FIAV|normal}} Flag of the coat of arms of the Cossack Hetmanate (1649–1764)
|[[File:Alex K Chornomorske Kozacke Viysko-03.svg|180x100px]]|{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Black Sea Cossack Host]] in 1803
|[[File:Flag of the Ruthenian National Guard from Yavoriv.png|190x100px|border]]|{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of Ruthenian National Guard in 1848
|[[File:Flag of Ukrainians (1848).svg|180x100px|border]]|{{FIAV|noflag}} Variant of the national flag since 1848
}}

===Early independence: 1917–1921===
[[File:Богуш Шіппіх - Згинуть наші вороженьки, як роса на сонці (1917) - large.jpg|thumbnail|Artwork depicting the yellow-over-blue flag used by the UPR during the [[Ukrainian War of Independence]], 1918]]
[[File:Україна у своїх етноґрафічних межах.jpg|thumbnail|1920 publication featuring Ukraine's flag and coat of arms]]
[[File:Украинская галицкая армия флаг.jpg|thumbnail|left|[[Ukrainian Galician Army]] troops with the blue and yellow flag, 1918]]
Both blue-yellow and yellow-blue flags were widely used during the [[Ukraine after the Russian Revolution|Ukrainian struggle for independence]] in 1917. For the first time in the history of the [[Russian Empire]], the blue-yellow flag was flown on 25 March 1917 in [[Petrograd]] during a 20,000-strong mass [[Demonstration (protest)|demonstration]].<ref name=istpravda/> On the territory of Ukraine the national flag was flown for the first time in [[Kyiv]] on 29 March 1917 by soldiers.<ref name=istpravda/> On 1 April 1917, Kyiv saw a 100,000-strong demonstration where over 320 national flags were flown.<ref name=istpravda/> Afterwards, similar demonstrations with Ukrainian flags took place across the entire Russian Empire, even beyond ethnic Ukrainian lands.<ref name=istpravda/> Numerous famous Ukrainian politicians wrote about the 1 April demonstration, including [[Mykhailo Hrushevsky]] and [[Serhiy Yefremov]], noting that there were blue-and-yellow flags, while [[Dmytro Doroshenko]] claimed that they were yellow and blue.<ref name=istpravda/> The blue-yellow flag was flown at the First Ukrainian Military Congress on 18 May 1917.<ref name=istpravda/>

The official flag established by the [[Ukrainian People's Republic]] in 1918 was blue-yellow. Instead, they refer to the decision on the Fleet Flag, which was to be light blue–yellow,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rozovyk|first=D. F.|url=http://www.history.org.ua/journal/1999/4/10.pdf|script-title=uk:Документи та матеряли: Про створення української національно-державної символіки у роки визвольної боротьби (1917–1920 рр.)|trans-title=Documents and materials: On the creation of Ukrainian national-state symbols during the battle for liberation (1917–1920)|language=uk|journal=Ukrainian Historical Journal|publisher=history.org.ua|location=Kyiv|volume=4|date=1999|issn=0130-5247|pages=115–121|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705084455/http://www.history.org.ua/journal/1999/4/10.pdf|archive-date=July 5, 2007}}</ref> as an indication that the official flag was light blue–yellow.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chmyr|first=Mykola|url=http://vijsko.milua.org/Khoruhvy_HA.htm|script-title=uk:Українське військо у ХХ-ХХІ сторіччі: 'Командні хоругви' Галицької Армії (серпень 1919 р.)|trans-title=Ukrainian Army in the 20th–21st Century: 'Command banners' of the Galician Army (August 1919)|language=uk|website=vijsko.milua.org|date=2006|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=4 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704081622/http://vijsko.milua.org/Khoruhvy_HA.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Also adopted were several other service flags of the Ukrainian People's Republic.<ref>Grechylo A. Ukrayinska Terytorialna Heraldyka. Lviv, 2010, pp. 98–118. {{ISBN|978-966-02-5259-2}}</ref>

The official flag of [[Pavlo Skoropadsky]]'s [[Ukrainian State|Hetmanate]] was also light blue-yellow and remained the same under the [[Directorate of Ukraine|Directorate]] of [[Symon Petlura]].{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} The flag of the [[West Ukrainian People's Republic]] was blue-yellow.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} The stateless [[Makhnovshchina]], which existed during the [[Ukrainian War of Independence]], used the [[Flags of the Makhnovshchina|black flag]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Darch|first=Colin|title=Nestor Makhno and Rural Anarchism in Ukraine, 1917–1921|year=2020|location=[[London]]|publisher=[[Pluto Press]]|isbn=9781786805263|oclc=1225942343|page=102}}</ref>

Among Ukrainian immigrant organisations, there were proponents of both blue-yellow and yellow-blue flags. Eventually, an agreement was reached to use the blue-yellow flag until the issue could be resolved by an independent Ukraine.

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| perrow  = 3
| Flag of the Ukrainian People's Republic.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Ukrainian People's Republic]] (1917–1921)
| Flag of Ukrainian People's Republic (non-official, 1917).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} {{FIAV|proposal}} Non-official version of the flag of the Ukrainian People's Republic (1917)
| Flag of the Crimean Tatar people.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Crimean Democratic Republic]] (1917–1918)
| Flag of Kuban People's Republic.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Kuban People's Republic]] (1918–1920)
| Flag of the Ukrainian State.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Ukrainian State]] (1918)
| Flag of the West Ukrainian People's Republic.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[West Ukrainian People's Republic]] (1918–1919)
| Flag of Ukraine (1917–1921).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Komancza Republic]] (1918–1919)
| Прапор Лемко-Русинської Республіки.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Lemko Republic]] (1918–1920)
| Flag of Ukraine (1917–1921).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Hutsul Republic]] (1919)
| ХолоднийЯр прапор.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Kholodny Yar Republic]] (1919–1922)|Black_flag.svg|{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Makhnovshchina]] (1917–1921)}}

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| title   = Green Ukraine
| Flag of Green Ukraine.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} {{FIAV|proposal}} Version of the flag of the [[Green Ukraine|Ukrainian Far Eastern Republic]] (1917–1922) in Siberia<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Ned |title=Green Ukraine / Ukrainian Far East (1921, Russian Far East) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ru-zu.html |website=FOTW "Flags Of The World" |publisher=CRW Flags |access-date=24 October 2018 |date=24 February 2001 |quote=In "Flags of Non-Russian Peoples Under Soviet Rule" by Prof. Walter Trembicky [tbc69], pages 134 and 135, it mentions two proposed flags for Green Ukraine, or the Ukrainian Far East, neither of which was officially adopted, since the movement quickly proved abortive. There are simple black & white line drawings illustrating the two proposed flags on p. 133 of [tbc69]. The green in the two flags was described as dark or deep green. ... One [of the two proposed flags] was the Ukrainian blue-over-gold bicolor with a green triangle at the hoist.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Trembicky |first1=Walter |title=Flags of Non-Russian Peoples Under Soviet Rule |date=1969 |publisher=Flag Research Center |pages=134, 135}}</ref>
| Flag of the Far Eastern Ukraine.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} {{FIAV|proposal}} Version of the flag of the [[Green Ukraine|Ukrainian Far Eastern Republic]] (1917–1922) in Siberia
| Flag of the Far Eastern Ukrainians.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} {{FIAV|proposal}} Version of the flag of the [[Green Ukraine|Ukrainian Far Eastern Republic]] (1917–1922) in Siberia
}}

===Soviet Ukraine: 1922–1991===
{{Main|Flag of the Ukrainian SSR}}
[[File:Ukrainian flag 1966.jpg|thumb|Photo of the Ukrainian flag confiscated by the KGB after it was flown in one of the Kyiv universities in 1966. The flag contains lines alluding to the [[Ukrainian anthem]]: "Ukraine has not perished, it has not been killed yet".]]
During Soviet rule, the Ukrainian flag was banned,<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Revolution On Granite: Ukraine's 'First Maidan' |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/the-revolution-on-granite-ukraine-s-first-maidan-kyiv/30892599.html |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |language=en}}</ref> and anyone displaying it could be criminally prosecuted for "anti-Soviet propaganda". The first flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted on 10 March 1919, to serve as the symbol of state of [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Soviet Ukraine]]. Details of the official flag changed periodically before the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, but all were based on the red flag of the [[October Revolution]] in Russia and an exact replica of the flags of the neighbouring [[Russian SFSR]].
The first flag was red with the gold Cyrillic sans-serif letters {{lang|ru|У.С.С.Р.}} (U.S.S.R., acronym for {{Transliteration|ru|Ukrainskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Sovetskaya Respublika}} in the [[Russian language]]). In the 1930s, a gold border was added to the flag. In 1937, a new flag was adopted, with a small gold hammer and sickle added above the gold Cyrillic serif {{lang|uk|У.Р.С.Р.}} (U.R.S.R., for {{Transliteration|uk|Ukrainska Radianska Sotsialistychna Respublika}} in the Ukrainian language).

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| Socialist red flag.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} [[Red flag (politics)|Red flag]] (1917)
| Flag of Ukrainian People's Republic of the Soviets.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Ukrainian People's Republic of Soviets]] (1917–1919)
| Naval Ensign of the Ukrainian People's Socialist Republic.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[Ukrainian People's Republic of Soviets|Ukrainian People's Socialist Republic]] (1919)
}}

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| title   = Ukrainian SSR
| Flag_of_the_Ukrainian_SSR_(1919-1929).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} 1919–1929
| Flag_of_the_Ukrainian_SSR_(1929-1937).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} 1929–1937
| Flag of Ukrainian SSR (1937-1949).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} 1937–1949
| Flag of Ukrainian SSR.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} 1949–1991
| Flag of SFR Yugoslav Ruthenian and Ukrainian Minority.svg
| Flag of the [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] ethnic minority in [[SFR Yugoslavia]]
}}

===Interbellum and Reichskommissariat Ukraine===
The Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists is a Ukrainian political organisation which as a movement was originally created in 1929 in Western Ukraine (interwar Poland at the time). For a long time, the OUN did not officially have its own flag; however, during the Hungarian and Polish aggression against the [[Republic of Carpathian Ukraine]] in 1939, Carpathian Sich, a militarised wing of the OUN, adopted as its flag a design taken from the OUN's emblem – a golden nationalistic trident on a blue background. The flag was finalised and only officially adopted by the organisation in 1964 at the 5th Assembly of Ukrainian Nationalists.

The [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army]] was a Ukrainian nationalist paramilitary and later partisan army that engaged in a series of guerrilla conflicts during World War II against [[Nazi Germany]], the Soviet Union, [[Czechoslovakia]], and both underground and [[Polish People's Republic|communist Poland]]. The group was the military wing of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists — Bandera faction (the OUN-B), originally formed in Volyn in the spring and summer of 1943. Its official date of creation is 14 October 1942. The battle flag of the UPA was a 2:3 ratio red-and-black banner. The flag continues to be a symbol of the Ukrainian nationalist movement. The colours of the flag symbolise 'Ukrainian red blood spilled on Ukrainian black earth'.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100|align=center
|Flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.svg|[[Flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army|Flag]] of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and [[Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists|Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (Bandera faction)]]
|OUN-M-03.svg|Flag of the [[Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists|Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (Melnyk faction)]]
|Flag of Ukraine (fair blue).svg|{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of [[Carpatho-Ukraine]] and the 1941 [[Ukrainian National Government (1941)|Ukrainian National Government]]
}}

In 1949, the flag of the Soviet Ukraine was changed once again.<ref name=grechylo/> The [[Soviet Union]] managed to obtain two additional seats in the [[United Nations]] by adding Ukraine and [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic|Byelorussia]] as [[Member states of the United Nations|member states]].<ref name="grechylo" /> The flag change came about because all the Soviet flags were the same.<ref name="grechylo" /> The new Ukrainian flag consisted of red (top, 2/3) and [[azure (color)|azure]] (bottom, 1/3) stripes,<ref name="grechylo" /> with the golden star, [[hammer and sickle]] in the top left corner. Communist party leaders such as [[Nikita Khrushchev]] and [[Lazar Kaganovich]] feared using words like 'light blue' and 'blue' in the official flag colours, as they were the terms used by the [[Ukrainian diaspora]].<ref name=grechylo/>

During the Soviet period, multiple unsanctioned attempts to hoist the national blue-and-yellow flag were made. In 1958, an underground group was established in the village of Verbytsia, [[:uk:Ходорівський район|Khodoriv Raion]]; its members raised national flags and spread anti-Soviet pamphlets under cover of darkness.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Невідомі прапороносці. Жовто-блакитний проти червоного (Unknown flag-bearers. Yellow-blue against Red) |url=https://www.istpravda.com.ua/columns/2011/07/29/48180/|access-date=2022-03-04|website=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] Історична правда |date= July 29, 2011 }}</ref>

===Return of the national flag===
[[File:Kiev 24.7.1990 Ukrainian Flag.JPG|right|upright|thumb|The Ukrainian national flag was raised outside Kyiv's [[Kyiv City Council|City Hall]] for the first time on 24 July 1990.]]

Under the influence of [[Mikhail Gorbachev]]'s policies of [[perestroika]] and [[glasnost]], individual Soviet republics gained a strengthened sense of national identity, leading to the [[collapse of the Soviet Union]] in 1991. This was particularly true for the three [[Baltic states]] and [[West Ukrainian National Republic|Western Ukraine]], which were the last territories annexed into Soviet Union. The national awakening was accompanied by attempts to restore historical national symbols. In 1988, the [[List of Lithuanian rulers#Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1941 and 1944–1990)|Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR]] [[Flag of Lithuania#History|re-established]] Lithuania's national flag and coat of arms as the state symbol. The parliaments of [[Latvia]] and [[Estonia]] soon followed suit.

The events in the Baltic countries soon led to similar patterns in Ukraine. In particular, West Ukraine and the [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Ukrainian SSR]]'s capital city of [[Kyiv]] were the scenes of near-constant political demonstrations, in which yellow-and-blue flags were waved by demonstrators.
* On 14 March 1990, the Ukrainian flag was raised for the first time since the establishment of the Soviet Union in the small city of [[Stryi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of evolution of the State Flag of Ukraine |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/istoriya_evolyutsiii_dergavnogo_prapora_ukraiini_infografika_2084779 |work=[[Ukrinform]] |date=August 23, 2015|access-date=2022-03-04|language=uk}} {{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/istoriya_evolyutsiii_dergavnogo_prapora_ukraiini_infografika_2084779 |title=Укрінформ – актуальні новини України та світу |access-date=23 August 2015 |archive-date=17 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817220933/http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/istoriya_evolyutsiii_dergavnogo_prapora_ukraiini_infografika_2084779 |url-status=deviated }}</ref>
* On 20 March 1990, the [[Ternopil]] town council voted on the use and re-establishment of the yellow-and-blue flag and the [[Coat of arms of Ukraine|''tryzub'']] and ''[[Ukraine's glory has not perished|Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy]]'' national anthem. The same day, the yellow-and-blue national flag was flown for the first time in 80 years on a governmental building in Kyiv, replacing the then-official [[Flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|red-azure flag]] of the Ukrainian SSR.
* On 28 April 1990, the [[Lviv Oblast|Lviv]] oblast council (''oblasna rada'') also allowed the use of the national symbols of Ukraine within the Oblast.
* On 29 April 1990, the yellow-and-blue flag was flown from the Ternopil city theatre's flagstaff without the [[flag of the Soviet Union]] hanging above it.
* After 24 July 1990, the yellow-and-blue flag was flown for the first time over an official governmental building, the [[Kyiv City Council]], on ''[[Maidan Nezalezhnosti]]'' Square of ''[[Khreshchatyk]]'' Street.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-07-24 |title=22 роки тому в Києві офіційно підняли синьо-жовтий прапор (Twenty two years ago in Kyiv officially was raised the blue-yellow flag) |url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/politics/2012/07/120724_flag_ukraine_history_kyiv_as |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=BBC News Україна |language=uk}}</ref>
* After the [[Declaration of Independence of Ukraine|declaration of independence of Ukraine]] on 24 August 1991, the national yellow-and-blue flag flew for the first time over the [[Verkhovna Rada|Ukrainian Parliament (''Verkhovna Rada'')]] building on 4 September 1991.

As the Soviet red and azure flag remained the ''de jure'' flag of the newly-independent Ukraine, the blue and yellow flag was provisionally adopted for official ceremonies in August 1991 following [[Modern history of Ukraine#Independent Ukraine (1991 to present)|Ukrainian independence]], before officially being restored on 28 January 1992 by the [[Parliament of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ukraine's national flag celebrating 25th anniversary today|url=https://www.unian.info/society/1747301-ukraines-national-flag-celebrating-25th-anniversary-today.html|access-date=2022-03-04|website=[[UNIAN]]|date=28 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Symbolsx2">{{cite news|last=Trach|first=Nataliya|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/the-story-behind-2-top-ukrainian-symbols-national-flag-and-trident-421675.html|title=The story behind 2 top Ukrainian symbols: National flag and trident|publisher=Kyiv Post|date=26 August 2016|access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref> At the beginning of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], landmarks all over the world were lit up with the colours of the Ukrainian flag, while numerous cities raised the Ukrainian flag in solidarity.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/town-of-blue-mountains/town-raises-ukrainian-flag-in-support-and-solidarity-for-the-people-of-ukraine-5167910 | title=Town of Blue Mountains Info:Town Raises Ukrainian Flag in Support and Solidarity for the People of Ukraine | access-date=18 March 2022 | archive-date=11 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411032940/https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/town-of-blue-mountains/town-raises-ukrainian-flag-in-support-and-solidarity-for-the-people-of-ukraine-5167910 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.euronews.com/2022/02/25/in-many-capital-cities-official-buildings-turned-blue-and-yellow-in-solidarity-with-ukrain | title=VIDEO : Ukraine invasion: Europe's landmarks turned blue and yellow in solidarity with Kyiv | date=25 February 2022 }}</ref> [[Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment]], an independent [[Belarusians|Belarusian]] volunteer regiment, also adopted the colours of the Ukrainian flag in its insignia.

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| Flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.svg
| {{FIAV|historical}}  Flag of post-Soviet Ukraine used from 24 August 1991 to 28 January 1992, ''de jure''
| Flag of Ukraine (1991–1992).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of post-Soviet Ukraine used from 8 September 1991 to 28 January 1992 (blue-yellow, lighter shades), ''de facto''
| Flag_of_Ukraine_(Soviet_shades).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of post-Soviet Ukraine used from 8 September 1991 to 28 January 1992 (Soviet shades from previous SSR flag), ''de facto''
| Flag of Ukraine (1991–1992, dark blue).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of post-Soviet Ukraine used from 8 September 1991 to 28 January 1992 (blue-yellow, darker shades), ''de facto''
}}

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| Flag of Ukraine (1917–1921).svg
| {{FIAV|variant}} The sky-blue version that was in use until 2006; it is still in widespread use next to the current darker version.<ref name="Commonwealth"/><ref name="Olympics" /><ref name="flag-day-2016" /><ref name="flag-day-2017" /><ref name="flag-day-2019" /><ref name="flag-day-2021" />
| Flag of Ukraine (fair blue).svg
| {{FIAV|variant}} Flag of Ukraine with lighter shades is non-standard but has been frequently used<ref name="Commonwealth"/><ref name="Olympics" /><ref name="flag-day-2016" /><ref name="flag-day-2017" /><ref name="flag-day-2019" /><ref name="flag-day-2021" />
| Flag of Ukraine.svg
| {{FIAV|normal}} Flag of Ukraine with the shades introduced in 2006
}}

==Controversies and criticism==
===Origin===
One claimed version is that, since one of the first known coloured depictions of the [[coat of arms of Kyiv]] was mainly in yellow-blue colours, this tradition may have existed since the time of the Nordic-Slavic [[Grand Prince of Kyiv]] [[Volodymyr the Great]]. However, the blue-yellow colouring dates back to [[Kievan Rus']], as an early version of the ''[[Tryzub]]'', Ukraine's national coat of arms, sported the same colouring as the seal of [[Sviatoslav I]] of Kyiv (c. AD 945). During the 1709 [[Battle of Poltava]], the Cossacks following [[Mazepa]] fought under yellow-blue banners, while their Swedish allies were under yellow ones. Some Cossacks and noblemen had coats of arms in yellow and blue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vannier |first=Alexis |date=24 Aug 2021 |title=" CHTCHE NE VMERLA UKRAÏNY " : HISTOIRE DU DRAPEAU DE L'UKRAINE |url=https://www.taurillon.org/chtche-ne-vmerla-ukrainy-histoire-du-drapeau-de-l-ukraine?lang=fr |access-date=16 March 2022 |website=taurillon.org |language=fr}}</ref>

===Yellow-blue versus blue-yellow===
Ukrainians commonly refer to the flag as "yellow and light blue" ({{langx|uk|жовто-блакитний|link=no}}, {{Transliteration|uk|zhovto-blakytnyi}})<ref>A little less often they use also "yellow and blue", "blue and yellow" and "yellow and azure".</ref>—a different version of the flag used during UNR ([[Ukrainian National Republic]]) years (1917–1921) with yellow on the top and blue on the bottom. The yellow on the top allegedly represents golden domes ([[cupola]]s) of Christian churches and the blue the [[Dnieper]] river.

The head of the [[Ukrainian Heraldry Society]], [[Andriy Grechylo]], points to the fact that the discussion about order of colours was taking place as far back as 1918.<ref name=grechylo>{{Cite news|last=Gazeta.ua|title=Хрущов і Каганович боялися слова "жовто-блакитний" (Khrushchev and Kaganovich were afraid of the word "zhovto-blakytnyi") |url=https://gazeta.ua/articles/history/_hruschov-i-kaganovich-boyalisya-slova-zhovtoblakitnij-/512859 |date=23 August 2013 |access-date=2022-03-04|website=Gazeta.ua|language=uk}}</ref> Nonetheless, both governments of the Ukrainian People's Republic as well as the Ukrainian State defined that the upper half would be light-blue, while the lower would be yellow.<ref name=grechylo/> During 1918 it was taken into consideration that light blue would lose its shade under sun, therefore it was decided to make the colour darker.<ref name=grechylo/>

Already in the 1918 draft of the Constitution of the Ukrainian People's Republic, the order of colours was defined as blue and yellow.<ref name=grechylo/> The same order could be found in legislative acts of the [[West Ukrainian People's Republic]] for November 1918 and the [[Republic of Carpathian Ukraine]] on 15 March 1939.<ref name=grechylo/> The argument on the order of colours was taking place in the [[Ukrainian diaspora]] as well.<ref name=grechylo/> In 1949 it was decided that, until Ukraine defined a single state flag, the diaspora would use the blue-and-yellow banner.<ref name=grechylo/>

===Attempts to revive Soviet flags===
On 21 April 2011, the [[Verkhovna Rada]] passed a law allowing the [[Victory Banner (Soviet Union)|Victory Banner]] to be raised on Victory Day.<ref>{{Cite news |title=РАДА ЗОБОВ'ЯЗАЛА ВИВІШУВАТИ ЧЕРВОНІ ПРАПОРИ НА 9 ТРАВНЯ (Rada enforced raising red flags on the May 9) |url=https://www.istpravda.com.ua/short/2011/04/21/36767/|access-date=2022-03-04|website= [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] Історична правда |date=April 21, 2011 |language=uk}}</ref> The current Victory Banner was adopted in Russia in 2007. On 20 May 2011, the law was signed by the [[President of Ukraine]] [[Viktor Yanukovych]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=ЯНУКОВИЧ ПІДПИСАВ ЗАКОН ПРО ЧЕРВОНИЙ ПРАПОР (Yanukovych signed the law about the Red Banner) |url=https://www.istpravda.com.ua/short/2011/05/21/39383/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] Історична правда |date= 21 May 2011 |language=uk}}</ref> On 17 June 2011, the [[Constitutional Court of Ukraine]] recognised the law as unconstitutional and proposed that the parliament implement required amendments to the [[Constitution of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=КС Украины признал неконституционным использование красного знамени Победы (CC of Ukraine recognised the use of Red Victory Banner as non-constitutional) |url=https://rg.ru/2011/06/17/znamya-anons.html|access-date=2022-03-04|website=Russian Gazette Российская газета |date=June 17, 2011 |language=ru}}</ref>

On 9 April 2015, the Ukrainian parliament passed legislation on [[decommunization in Ukraine|decommunization]], banning the promotion of symbols of "[[Communist]] and [[National Socialist]] [[totalitarian regime]]s".<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-purges-symbols-its-communist-past-321663 |title= Ukraine Purges Symbols of Its Communist Past |first= Nolan |last= Peterson |work= [[Newsweek]] |date= 10 April 2015 |access-date= 17 May 2015}}<br />{{cite news |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/259775.html |title= Rada bans Communist, Nazi propaganda in Ukraine |work= [[Interfax-Ukraine]] |date= 9 April 2015 |access-date= 17 May 2015}}<br />{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/20/ukraine-decommunisation-law-soviet |title= Ukraine to rewrite Soviet history with controversial 'decommunisation' laws |first= Lily |last= Hyde |work= [[The Guardian]] |date= 20 April 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150516095241/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/20/ukraine-decommunisation-law-soviet |archive-date= 16 May 2015 |access-date= 17 May 2015}}</ref> Since then, Soviet symbols, like the Victory Banner, have only been allowed in cemeteries.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32267075 |first= Vitaly |last= Shevchenko |title= Goodbye, Lenin: Ukraine moves to ban communist symbols |work= [[BBC News]] |date=14 April 2015 |access-date= 17 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.dw.de/ukraine-lawmakers-ban-communist-and-nazi-propaganda/a-18372853 |title= Ukraine lawmakers ban 'Communist and Nazi propaganda' |work= [[Deutsche Welle]] |date=9 April 2015 |archive-date= 1 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001180213/https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-lawmakers-ban-communist-and-nazi-propaganda/a-18372853 |url-status=live |access-date= 11 February 2023}}</ref>

Soviet flags have been flown in territories [[Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine|outside of the government's control]] after Russia [[Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022–present)|invaded the country]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Pareisa |title=Ukraine: Russian troops flying Soviet flag, symbol of 're-establishing Russian domination' |url=https://observers.france24.com/en/europe/20220311-ukraine-ussr-soviet-flag-russia-troops |access-date=4 May 2022 |work=The Observers – [[France 24]] |date=11 March 2022 |archive-date=27 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427075026/https://observers.france24.com/en/europe/20220311-ukraine-ussr-soviet-flag-russia-troops |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Flag of the head of state==
Throughout the history of [[Ukraine]], various heads of state have used different flags. The designs differ according to the historical era they were used in and in accordance with the political scene in [[Ukraine]] at the time. The first flag to be used by a head of state of Ukraine was that of [[Pavlo Skoropadskyi]]. A standard for the [[President of Ukraine (in exile)|President of the Ukrainian People's Republic in exile]] appeared around 1930. The current design, the [[flag of the president of Ukraine]], was adopted in 1999. In 2022, the president of Ukraine used a variant where the left side of the blue upper-half contains the yellow ''[[Coat of arms of Ukraine|Tryzub]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Basu|first=Zachary|date=2022-03-01|title=Zelensky tells European Parliament "nobody is going to break us" in emotional appeal|url=https://www.axios.com/zelensky-video-european-parliament-address-ukraine-ed88a2e1-ff9e-471c-9a4d-92e0406ff541.html|access-date=2022-03-04|website=Axios|language=en|archive-date=22 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322080554/https://www.axios.com/zelensky-video-european-parliament-address-ukraine-ed88a2e1-ff9e-471c-9a4d-92e0406ff541.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100|align=center
|Personal Standard of the Hetman.svg|{{FIAV|historical}} Personal standard of the Hetman of Ukraine (1918)
|Штандарт Президента УНР.png|{{FIAV|historical}} Standard of the [[President of Ukraine (in exile)|President of the Ukrainian People's Republic in exile]]
|Flag_of_the_President_of_Ukraine.svg|[[Flag of the President of Ukraine|Presidential standard]]}}

==Military flags==
[[File:Rapid Trident 2014 10.jpg|thumb|130px|right|Navy and National Guard flags being flown during a military parade]]
{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| perrow  = 3
| Ensign of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.svg
| [[Armed Forces of Ukraine|Armed Forces]]
| Ensign of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.svg
| [[Ukrainian Ground Forces|Ground Forces]]
| Ensign of the Ukrainian Air Force.svg
| [[Ukrainian Air Force|Air Force]]
| Ensign of the National Guard of Ukraine.svg
| [[National Guard of Ukraine|National Guard]]
| Naval Ensign of Ukraine.svg
| [[Ukrainian Navy|Navy]]
| Sea Guard Ensign of Ukraine (dress).svg
| [[Ukrainian Sea Guard|Sea Guard]]
|Flag_of_the_State_Border_Guard_Service_of_Ukraine.svg
|[[State Border Guard Service of Ukraine|State Border Guard]]
|Flag of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine.svg
|[[Special Operations Forces of Ukraine|Special Operations Forces]]
|Flag of the Ukrainian Naval Infantry.png
|[[Ukrainian Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]|Flag of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.svg
|[[Ukrainian Air Assault Forces|Air Assault Forces]]}}

===Historical===

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| perrow  = 3
| title   = Naval Ensign
|2={{FIAV|historical}} 1787|3=Naval Ensign of Ukraine (1917–1921).svg|4={{FIAV|historical}} 1917|5=Naval Ensign of Ukraine 1918 July.svg|6={{FIAV|historical}} 1918–1921|7=Naval Ensign of Ukraine 1918 (dress).svg|8={{FIAV|proposal}} 1918|9=Naval Ensign of Ukraine 1918 July.svg|10={{FIAV|historical}} 1992|11=Naval ensign of Ukraine (1993).svg|12={{FIAV|historical}} 1993|13=Naval ensign of Ukraine (1994–1997).svg|14={{FIAV|historical}} 1994–1997|15=Naval ensign of Ukraine (1997–2007).svg|16={{FIAV|historical}} 1997–2006}}

{{gallery
| align   = center
| mode    = nolines
| whitebg = y
| height  = 100
| title   = Naval Jack
| Naval Jack of Ukraine (1918–1921).svg
| {{FIAV|historical}} 1918–1921
| Naval jack of Ukraine (1992).svg
| {{FIAV|proposal}} 1992
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Ukraine|Heraldry}}
* [[List of Ukrainian flags]]
* [[Flags of the regions of Ukraine]]
* [[Coat of arms of Ukraine]]
* [[National colours of Ukraine]]
* [[State symbols of the President of Ukraine]]

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|National flag of Ukraine}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{FOTW|id=ua|title=Ukraine}}
* [https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/ДСТУ_4512:2006 DSTU 4512:2006] Technical specifications from DSTU (Ukrainian [[Standards organization|national standards body]]) regarding flag of Ukraine, in Ukrainian. 1 September 2006.
* [http://www.vexillographia.ru/ukraine/index.htm Ukraine – Vexillographia]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224329/http://www.uarmy.com.ua/ALMANAH/ALMANAH02/article12/art12.html Armed Forces Flag in Ukraine]
* [https://guideme.com.ua/what-language-is-spoken-in-ukraine Departmantal Flag and Emblem in Ukraine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122110605/https://guideme.com.ua/what-language-is-spoken-in-ukraine/ |date=22 November 2022 }}
* [http://library.lnu.edu.ua/bibl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=214:-i-i-i-i&catid=58:2008-10-22-10-25-21&Itemid=67 Brief history of the flag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218013114/http://library.lnu.edu.ua/bibl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=214:-i-i-i-i&catid=58:2008-10-22-10-25-21&Itemid=67 |date=18 December 2011 }} at the Science Library of Franko National University (Lviv).
* [http://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1567-12 "About Ukrainian flag"]. Statement of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of Ukraine. 18 September 1991.
* [http://search.ligazakon.ua/l_doc2.nsf/link1/T206700.html "About the State Flag of Ukraine"]. State of the Supreme Council of Ukraine. 28 January 1992.

{{Flags of Ukraine}}
{{Ukraine topics}}
{{Flag of Europe}}

{{National symbols of Ukraine}}

[[Category:Flags of Ukraine| ]]
[[Category:Blue and yellow flags|Ukraine]]
[[Category:National flags|Ukraine]]
[[Category:National symbols of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1918|Ukraine]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1991|Ukraine]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1992|Ukraine]]
[[Category:Horizontally symmetrical flags|Ukraine]]
[[Category:1992 in Ukraine]]