Flag of Ukraine
Two equal horizontal stripes: blue on top and yellow below.
At a glance
- Adopted
- January 28, 1992first adopted in 1918; banned in Soviet times; restored in 1991-1992
- Shape (height : width)
- 2:3
- Capital
- Kyiv
- Continent
- Europe
- Colours
- blue
- yellow
What it means
- Blue and yellow: no meaning is set in law; the colours come from old coats of arms of the region
- Popular explanation: people very often say blue is the sky and yellow is the golden wheat fields below it, but this is not an official meaning
Where it came from
The blue and yellow banner was first adopted on 22 April 1848 by the Supreme Ruthenian Council in Lviv, then part of the Austrian Empire. Blue and gold were common colours on the coats of arms of that region: the arms of Lviv still show a golden lion on blue.
History
The Ukrainian People's Republic made the blue and yellow flag official on 22 March 1918. After Ukraine became part of the Soviet Union, the flag was banned, and showing it could lead to prosecution. The Soviet Ukrainian flag was red with a light blue stripe and a hammer and sickle.
The blue and yellow flag was raised over Kyiv City Council on 24 July 1990. After independence in August 1991, it became the official state flag on 28 January 1992, and the 1996 constitution confirmed it.
Fun facts
- Ukraine celebrates National Flag Day on 23 August, the day before Independence Day.
- A darker blue was chosen in 1992 partly because light blue flags fade quickly in the sun.
- From far away the flag looks like a blue sky over a yellow field of wheat.
- In July 1990, more than a year before independence, the flag was raised in front of Kyiv City Council.
Easy to mix up with
Sweden: Sweden uses the same colours, but with a yellow cross on blue
Questions
What does the flag of Ukraine look like?
Two equal horizontal stripes: blue on top and yellow below.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Ukraine mean?
Blue and yellow: no meaning is set in law; the colours come from old coats of arms of the region; Popular explanation: people very often say blue is the sky and yellow is the golden wheat fields below it, but this is not an official meaning.
When was the flag of Ukraine adopted?
The current flag of Ukraine was adopted on January 28, 1992. (first adopted in 1918; banned in Soviet times; restored in 1991-1992)
What colours are on the flag of Ukraine?
The flag of Ukraine uses blue and yellow.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Ukraine?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Sweden. Sweden uses the same colours, but with a yellow cross on blue
Famous landmarks in Ukraine
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)