Last modified: 2023-09-16 by martin karner
Keywords: ukraine | trident | jack | naval jack | border guard |
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There are some reports of a Ukrainian naval ensign, jack and flag for the Ukrainian Border Guard. Flagmaster, 1994 showed the naval ensign as a blue cross throughout on a white field with the blue over yellow charged with the 'tryzub' (without the shield), in the canton. The flag of the Border Guard was reported as being green with a canton of blue over yellow and with the arms (golden trident on a blue shield bordered in gold). Flagmaster noted the lack of official documentation for these flags.
The war flag (naval ensign?), jack, and flag of the Border Guard are shown in colour in the latest issue of Info-bulletin, 1996. There is no explanation or documentation. The war flag is shown as a consisting of a dark blue cross on a white field. In the canton is the light blue over yellow with the arms (yellow trident on yellow bordered light blue shield) set on a white disc in the centre. The jack is light blue over yellow with the trident arms on the circle in the centre. The flag of the Border Guard is the same kind of canton set on a green field. All flags are about 2:3 in proportions.
Jos Poels posted to me more information about ensigns and
jacks of the Ukrainian navy. According to information he received
from vexillologists in Ukraine, the ensign and jack have not been
officially adopted. Because of parliament's inability to adopt
such flags, the navy has started making their own unofficial
flags, often made on board. Consequently, there is a large number
of designs, none of them official.
Jan Oskar Engene, 15 September 1996
Some weeks ago I reported that Ukraine Border Guard adopted
new ensign. Yesterday I received from A. Basov full info
about the topic. The new ensigns adopted are:
1) Ensign
2) Jack
3) Commander in chief
4) Deputy commander
5) Naval Commander
6) Canton Commander
7) Canton commander assistent & Commander of naval
departament canton
8) Commander of Naval formation
9) Division pennant
10) Senior officier afloat
11) Masthead pennant
I assume that the images will are availables soon in several
bulletins.
Jaume Olle', 18 December 1999
It seems that the cotized cross of the Ukraininan navy
(appeared already in 1918, see Ukraine –
Historical Flag – Hetmanete Flags (1918)) is quite probably
inspired by the German imperial naval ensign.
Željko Heimer, 12 May 2003
image by Zachary Harden
Official Naval Ensign with white but without blue fimbriation in the upper
(still image from video
at 6:18 min., report about the underwater drone Marichka).
located by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 3 September 2023
As of 2006, this is the correct pattern of the naval ensign. The translation of the law is as follows:
"APPENDIX No. 23 to the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated June 20, 2006 No. 551/2006
DESCRIPTION Naval Flag of the Armed Forces of Ukraine The Naval Flag of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a
white rectangular cloth with an aspect ratio of 2:3, in the center of which is a straight blue cross, and
in the upper left corner of the cloth (cross) – the State Flag of Ukraine. On three sides (except
the cross), the cross has a blue border placed at a distance of 1/4 of the width of the sides of the cross.
The width of the sides of the cross is 1/15 of the length of the panel, and the width of the border is 1/4
of the width of the sides of the cross. Both sides of the flag cloth are mirror-identical. Head of the
Secretariat President of Ukraine O. Rybachuk"
The decree can be found
here (Ukrainian).
Zachary Harden, 4 September 2023
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian
flags books issued in 2007.
This image is based on navy flags chart (navy flags since 2000)
from the book and was translated by Andriy Grechylo as:
"Ukrainian Navy".
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
Ukrainian Navy have 3 ensigns. I don`t know the regulation on
using the ensigns. My friend from Ukraine (V. Nerubenko) saw only
the flag with national colours on the ships. Possibly, other two
variants are for parades and for navy-fortresses
Victor Lomantsov, 8 January 2001
1) 
image by Victor Lomantsov, 8 January 2001
2) 
image by Victor Lomantsov, 8 January 2001
This is the correct Navy flag, which is incorrectly labeled
'war flag'. I can assure you, that the colours and proportions
are observed precisely. This Navy flag was established by spring
1918, during government of hetman Skoropads'kyi, and was restored
with establishment of independence). The national blue-and-yellow
flag in the canton should not have a white circle with trident.
Roman v. Hord'eiev, 11 September 1998
The national flag when present in a naval Ukrainian flag rests
on the blue cross's cotized arm (canton). Here however is an
enlarged photo showing a variant: a narrow white border around
the national flag where it (should) touch(es) the cross: <www.nato.int>.
Photo accompanying text: "Navy officers onboard a battleship
at Sevastopol Bay, prepare to raise the new Ukrainian naval flag
for the first time, marking the first anniversary of the
Ukrainian navy on 1 August. (Reuters)"
This 1997 text thus uses an older photograph. On this page,
some 1992 and 1993 'first' flag hoistings are mentioned:
<www.globalsecurity.org>.
Of course, the flag in above photo may have been an unofficial or
prototype variant.
Jan Mertens, 1 January 2004
3) 
image by Victor Lomantsov, 28 January 2001
According to 'Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives' [pay00], the first image is the
'naval ensign at sea or at anchor', the second image is 'naval
ensign on public holidays' and the third image is unknown.
The auxiliary vessels' ensign (dark blue with naval ensign is
canton – see Auxiliary Ships), as well as the
rescue vessel's ensign (same with an aqualung helmet in a white
badge at lower fly – see Salvation Ships)
follow the same dual pattern.
Ivan Sache, 9 January 2001
L'Album 2000 [pay00] have only
the first two shown. The one without the national flag in canton
is captioned "Naval Ensgn at sea or at anchor" while
the one with the coloured canton is "Naval Ensign on public
holidays". Possibly Mr. Nerubenko had chance of seeing the
ensigns only on festive days or maybe this "cermonial"
ensign is used a bit more often?
In any case, Ukraininan naval flags are certainly and area whith
many reports but few of them that would not be contradictory. I
would guess that the ensign of type three above is used maybe by
vessels of "guard units" i.e. a counterpart of the
Russian St. Andrew's with orange ribbon.
Željko Heimer, 10 January 2001
It is a interesting explanation. But V. Nerybenko wrote me that
he spoke with sailors. They don`t know about navy ensign without
national colours".
Victor Lomantsov, 10 January 2001
No. 1 is for ships anchored in sea. No 2 is the
ensign for holiday days. No. 3 is the ensign for navy and
groups of national navy.
Jaume Ollé, 27 January 2001
No. 2 appears at the collection of UA military flags at www.uarmy.com.ua
as navy ensign.
Victor Lomantsov and Dov Gutterman, 26 June
2002
See also image from www.dod.niss.gov.ua/sostav.htm, located by Michael Simakov, 15 June 1999
Naval Ensign at sea or at anchor
image by Željko Heimer
According to L'Album 2000 [pay00]
– Naval Ensign at sea or at anchor (---/--W 2:3) – White flag
with a blue cotized cross. The construction of the cross is not
known to us (is it?). Obove we have Victor's image that is
slightly different, for which dr. hord'eiev claims to be exact
and correct. In Album the blue cotize appears slightly wider then
the white stripe between it, so I follow that (also in all other
flags that inlcude the blue cross).
What is the meaning "at sea or at anchor" – are there
any other ensigns used otherwise?
Of course, there is the holiday ensign, but the two terms does
not seem to be complementary. I assume that this may easily be
just following of the terminology used in some Ukriainan
regulations, and as it is often in such documents, the locig is
not always "obvious".
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2003
Naval Ensign on public holidays
image by Željko Heimer
According to L'Album 2000 [pay00]
– Naval Ensign on public holidays (---/--W 2:3) – Naval ensign
with the national bicolour in canton.
It is said obove by Hord'eiev that this was first introduced in
1918 in the Hetmanate, but on FOTW pages dealing with 1918 flags
there is no such flag (but similar there are).
Do we know what are these holidays when these are used? Are they
used, for example, also on saturdays? Are they used only as part
of the full (and small) dress, or are they also used "on
sea" on public holidays?
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2003
The at sea/at dock/holiday ensign system was
discontinued in 2006. There is one unified ensign, and the information
is as follows "APPENDIX No. 23 to the Decree of the President of
Ukraine dated June 20, 2006 No. 551/2006 DESCRIPTION Naval Flag of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Naval Flag of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
is a white rectangular cloth with an aspect ratio of 2:3, in the
center of which is a straight blue cross, and in the upper left corner
of the cloth (cross) – the State Flag of Ukraine. On three sides
(except the cross), the cross has a blue border placed at a distance
of 1/4 of the width of the sides of the cross. The width of the sides
of the cross is 1/15 of the length of the panel, and the width of the
border is 1/4 of the width of the sides of the cross. Both sides of
the flag cloth are mirror-identical. Head of the Secretariat President
of Ukraine O. Rybachuk ".
The decree can be found here
(An image of the ensign is at this link).
Zachary Harden, 6 September 2023 (by e-mail)
Naval Ensign
image by Željko Heimer
Album 1990's issue Corr. 29 [pay97b]
includes the first longish list of UA flags, but these were
mostly unconfirmed. As far as I have understood (please correct
me if I am wrong), these flags might have actually been in use in
mid-1990's – as the legislation on new naval flags was too slow,
the navy apaprently used sets of unofficial or semi-official (in
any case, de facto) flags, one of which was the one
presented in this Album issue.
Naval Ensign – White ensign with blue cotized cross and the
simplified coat of arms in canton. Note on the page says for this
flag to be unconfirmed, especially inclusion of CoA is
questionable.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2003
Naval Unit and Group Ensign
image by Željko Heimer
According to Album 1990's issue Corr. 29 [pay97b] – Naval Unit and Group
Ensign – White ensign with blue cotized cross and the national
bicolour in the the canton with the simplified coat of arms in
its middle. Note on the page says for this flag to be
unconfirmed, especially inclusion of CoA is questionable.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2003
image by Željko Heimer
In Album 1995 [pie90] Recap. 1 and
subsequent Corr. 24 we have only four images for Ukraine,
apparently different from latter flags (transitional version of
questionable officiality, I guess):
Naval Ensign – White flag with blue cross thoughout and in canton
the national bicolour defaced with a white disk containing the
simplified CoA.
The images suggest that the cross width is 1/5 of the hoist, i.e.
the stripes of the light blue, yellow and dark blue are equal at
hoist, but it is quite questionable if anything so detailed
should be concluded for these flags.
Željko Heimer, 18 May 2003
image by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 17 March 2014
There seems to be some doubt about what flag the Ukrainian Navy
actually uses, the other day there was a close shot of the blockaded
corvette "Ternopil" in Sebastopol. She had an ensign including the blue
and yellow horizontal stripes in the upper canton. It was close enough
to see that in that canton they had left off the fimbriation of the
dark blue cross which is the main design of the flag.
Kenneth Fraser, 7 March 2014
.gif)
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian
flags books issued in 2007.
This image is based on the book.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian
flags books issued in 2007.
This image is based on navy flags chart (navy flags since 2000)
from the book and was translated by Andriy Grechylo as:
"Jack".
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
image by Antonio Martins, 17 December 2002
Trident included when President is on board.
Victor Lomantsov, 8 January 2001
image by Željko Heimer
In Album 1995 [pie90] Recap. 1 and
subsequent Corr. 24 we have only four images for Ukraine,
apparently different from latter flags (transitional version of
questionable officiality, I guess):
Naval Jack. – The national bicolour defaced with a white disk
containing the simplified CoA. This flag is missing from L'Album
2000 [pay00].
Željko Heimer, 18 May 2003
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian
flags books issued in 2007.
This image is based on navy flags chart (navy flags since 2000)
from the book and was translated by Andriy Grechylo as:
"Pennant of ship".
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
image by Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003
Pennant of navy ships.
Victor Lomantsov, 11 January 2001
According to L'Album 2000 [pay00]
– Naval Masthead Pennant – White long swallow-tailed pennant with
blue cross neaxt to the hoist. It may be worth of noting that
the crosses in the masthead pennants are not cotized white the
ensigns are cotized. This would make some sense, since the
cotization would hardly be visible in the thin long pennant ...
Željko Heimer, 10/15 May 2003
image by Željko Heimer
According to Album 1990's issue Corr. 29 [pay97b] – Naval Masthead Pennant
(1:15) – White swallow-tailed pennant with blue cross next to
hoist and simplified CoA in the canton. But for the unconfirmed
CoA, it is similar to 2000, however, the ratio is given much
shorter here.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2003
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian
flags books issued in 2007.
This image is based on navy flags chart (navy flags since 2000)
from the book and was translated by Andriy Grechylo as:
"Support ship".
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
1) 
image by Victor Lomantsov
2) 
image by Victor Lomantsov
Two flags for auxiliary ships.
Victor Lomantsov, 10 January 2001
Auxiliary Vessels' Ensign at sea or at anchor
image by Željko Heimer
According to L'Album 2000 [pay00]
– Auxiliary Vessels' Ensign at sea or at anchor (---/--W 2:3) –
(Dark) blue ensign with the naval ensign in canton.
Ahen was it introduced?
Certainly this ensign, as well as the rescue ensign is inspired
in design (and it mere existance) on the Soviet ensigns of the
type.
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2003
Auxiliary Vessels' Ensign on public holidays
image by Željko Heimer
According to L'Album 2000 [pay00]
– Auxiliary Vessels' Ensign on public holidays (---/--W 2:3) – As
above, but with the national bicolour in the canton of the naval
ensign (itself in the canton).
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2003
image by Željko Heimer
According to Album 1990's issue Corr. 29 [pay97b] – Auxiliary Ships' Ensign –
Blue ensign with the naval ensign in canton (with simplified CoA
in its canton). Note on the page says for this flag to be
unconfirmed, especially inclusion of CoA is questionable.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2003
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian
flags books issued in 2007.
This image is based on navy flags chart (navy flags since 2000)
from the book and was translated by Andriy Grechylo as:
"Search and Rescue Ship".
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
1) 
image by Victor Lomantsov
2) 
image by Victor Lomantsov
Two flags for salvation ships.
Victor Lomantsov, 10 January 2001
Rescue Vessels' Ensign at sea or at anchor
image by Željko Heimer
According to L'Album 2000 [pay00]
– Rescue Vessels' Ensign at sea or at anchor (---/--W 2:3)
– As auxiliary ensign defaced with a white disk in fly with black
ancient diving helmet.
The helmet in album is somewhat different from the one by Victor,
and also from previous album issue. That is probably not
significant, after all.
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2003
Rescue Vessels' Ensign on public holidays
image by Željko Heimer
According to L'Album 2000 [pay00]
– Rescue Vessels' Ensign on public holidays (---/--W 2:3) – As
for the other naval ensigns, the national bicolour is added in
the canton of the naval ensign.
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2003
image by Željko Heimer
According to Album 1990's issue Corr. 29 [pay97b] – Naval Rescue Ships'
Ensign – Blue ensign with the naval ensign in canton (with
simplified CoA in its canton) and a white disk with black
outlined diving helmet. The helmet shape is actually entirely
like the one in Album 2000, only that it has no black fill
anywhere. Note on the page says for this flag to be unconfirmed,
especially inclusion of CoA is questionable.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2003
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian
flags books issued in 2007.
This image is based on navy flags chart (navy flags since 2000)
from the book and was translated by Andriy Grechylo as:
"Hydrographic Ship".
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited the Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian
flags books issued in 2007.
This is the flag of "Special Transport Service".
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 March 2008
I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv in
January 2008 and took photo of flag with silver cross.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008
It is flag of military unit of Ukrainian navy (project 1997).
Andriy Grechylo, 21 March 2008
