RUSSIAN FEDERATION
NAVAL ENSIGNS, FLAGS & PENNANTS SINCE 1992
In 1992 the naval ensigns and flags of the Soviet Union were officially abolished and the historic Andrew Flag was readopted as the naval ensign of the Russian Federation. The former tsarist jack and fortress flag was also readopted but otherwise the new range of flags follows the previous Soviet pattern with the Cross of St. Andrew or the white-blue-red Russian tricolor replacing Soviet symbols. Exceptions are the Guards ensign and the honorary ensign for the cruiser Aurora, which continue to display the Soviet-era Guards Ribbon and Order of the Red Banner.
The flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy is the Andrew Flag charged with the state arms of Russia within a wreath; the same flag but with the arms replaced by crossed red "Admiralty" anchors, is flown by the Chief of Staff of the Navy. The other naval rank flags are the same as those used by the USSR, but with the Andrew Flag as a canton. Other senior officials and officers have appointment flags based on the appropriate ensign or jack.
The Border Guard ensign displays the Cross of St. Andrew on a green field, while the ensign for vessels of the Ministry of the Interior is dark red with a canton of the Andrew Flag, these being the services' branch colors. Border Guard command flags are based on the ensign. Government vessels serving on fishery protection duties fly an ensign with a red field, a canton of the Russian tricolor and crossed yellow anchors in the lower fly.
Credits: Many of my drawings are based on images posted to the FOTW Mailing List by Zeljko Heimer and Joseph McMillan. Information was also taken from VEXILLOGRAPHIA, the outstanding website devoted to the historical and current flags of Russia and related countries, from the Russian Navy's official website.
Images Added November 2016
Naval Auxiliary Ensigns • Presidential Flag for Use at Sea
