MILITARY & NAVAL FLAGS  •  1918-21
 

Notes
 

The chaotic conditions prevailing in Eastern Europe in the final months of the Great War enabled Ukraine to attain a precarious independence. The new state, made of of former Russian and Austro-Hungarian territory, was formed in 1917. At first Ukraine expected to join a new, federated Russian Republic but the Bolshevik seizure of power scotched this idea and the Ukrainian leaders decided on full independence, proclaiming the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR) on 20 November 1917. The first flag of independent Ukraine, adopted in 1917, was horizontally divided, yellow over blue, colors long associated with the Ukrainian people. In 1918, however, the order of colors was reversed. Subsequently a range of military and naval flags and pennants were adopted, most based on the national flag and coat of arms (the gold trident). Some of these flags were adopted after a Cossack coup replaced the republic with a short-lived Hetmanate (monarchy) and most were retained after the reestablishment of the UPR. All were abolished after Ukraine fell under Bolshevik control in 1921. Since regaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has adopted a range of naval and military flags similar to those of the 1918-21 period.