A tricolour consisting of three equal horizontal fields, white on the top, blue in the middle and red on the bottom. Used as a commercial and civil maritime ensign from the 1690s (allegedly from 1668) on. Since 1700, tricolor has been used as the flag of the Tsar of Moscow by Peter the Great. Also this flag was a national trade and it was raised on Russian merchant ships.[1] It existed before the introduction in 1858 of a black-yellow-white tricolor. Since 1896, it again became the national flag of the Russian Empire.[2][3] It was also used by the Russian state during the Civil War in Russia.
Flags of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation[]
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, for a brief time, many Soviet era flags were still in use until new designs replaced them in the early 2000's. The new flags of the Russian Armed Forces are heavily inspired by the regimental banners and flags of the late Imperial Russian Army and Navy.
Flags of service branches[]
Flag
Date
Use
Description
2003–present
Flag of the Ministry of Defence
2004–present
Flag of the Russian Ground Forces
1712–1917
Ensign of the Imperial Russian Navy
A dark blue saltire on a white field. The so-called Andreevskiy (St. Andrew's) flag was inspired by the flag of Scotland and was designed by Peter the Great in need of a naval flag for the newly created Russian Navy.
2000–present
Ensign of the modern day Russian Navy
The ensign of the imperial Russian Navy was revived in 2000 for usage in the modern day Russian Navy. The previous variant of the ensign was revived in 1992, but in a light blue color that did not conform to the historical specifications of the original. It was finally decided on December 29, 2000, to update all existing flags to the original dark blue, rather than the light blue.
2015–present
Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces
2004–present
Flag of the Russian Airborne Forces
A bicolour of horizontal stripes, blue and green defaced with the Russian Airborne Forces emblem
2004–present
Flag of the Strategic Missile Forces
Flags of the Ground Forces[]
Flags of the arms of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation
Flag
Date
Use
Description
2005–present
Flag of the Engineer Troops
2005–present
Flag of the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops
The Aerospace Forces are a branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, it has three arms, the Russian Air Force, the Air Defense Forces, and the Russian Space Forces. The Air Defense Forces does not have a flag.
Flag
Date
Use
Description
2004–present
Flag of the Russian Air Force
2015–present
Flag of the Russian Space Forces
Light blue field with the Russian Space Forces emblem (Космические войска циркумфлекс; Space Forces Circumflex)
Flags of the Rear of the Russian Armed Forces (1992–2010)[]
Flag
Date
Use
Description
2004–2009
Flag of the Rear of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
2005–2011
Flag of military units and organizations of cantonment and military equipment
Banners of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation[]
Each branch of the Armed Forces has a representative banner, one for the Ground Forces, the Aerospace Forces, the Navy, and one to represent the entire Armed Forces as a whole.
Obverse (Front)
Reverse (Back)
Date
Use
Description
2000–2003
Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
The first banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was introduced on 8 December 2000, later confirmed by Federation Council on 20 December and signed by Vladimir Putin on 29 December. It was a plain red field, it symbolized the traditional red color of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union.
2003–present
Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
The present banner of the Armed Forces of Russian Federation is introduced under a resolution by State Duma in June 2003. This banner consists of two double-headed eagles, on the obverse side is the coat of arms of the Russian Federation, and on the reverse side is the middle emblem of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. The banner follows the principles and format of historically older Russian military flags that were last used prior to the Russian Revolution in 1917. It also contains four stars in each corner of the banner to symbolize the heritage of the Soviet Armed Forces. The reverse side also contains two pieces of text written in old style Slavic typeface, the top side of the banner contains the inscription "Fatherland" ("Отечество") and on the bottom side the inscription reads "Debt of Honor" ("Долг Честь")[4]
2002–present
Banner of the Russian Ground Forces
The banner of the Russian Ground Forces was introduced by decree No. 141 on February 4, 2002 by Vladimir Putin. It is similar to the above banner, but doesn't have stars and inscriptions, on the reverse side is the middle emblem of the Russian Ground Forces.
2002–present
Banner of the Russian Air Force/Aerospace Forces
The banner of the Russian Air Forces was introduced by decree No. 141 on February 4, 2002 by Vladimir Putin.[5] It became the banner of the newly created Aerospace Forces branch, which saw the merger between the Russian Air Forces and the Air Defence Forces on August 1, 2015.
2000–present
Banner of the Russian Navy
The ensign of the Russian Navy is used as the banner of the Russian Navy. On December 29, 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a federal law making the naval ensign of the Russian navy the official banner of the Russian Navy.[6]
Victory Banner[]
The Victory Banner was a historical banner raised atop of the Reichstag building in Berlin, by the Red Army, on May 1, 1945. It signified the victory over Nazi Germany, and served as the main symbol of victory of the Soviet people. It was amended in Russian law in 1996, but with a new design to distance the new Russian state from any usage of Communist iconography. In 2007, following pressure from Red Army veterans, the original Victory Banner design replaced the 1996 variant, and has since then served its usage in virtually every single Victory Day parade held across Russia.
Banner
Date
Use
Description
1996–2007
Symbol of Victory Banner
The Symbol of Victory Banner was an alternative to using the historic Victory Banner, which contained the hammer and sickle.
2007–present
Banner of Victory
The Banner of Victory raised on the Reichstag in 1945. Replicas of the Victory Banner can be used alongside the national flag on Victory Day.
Prior to the creation of the first official flag of Russia in 1858, several merchant flags were used to represent Russia, the most notable being the White, Blue, and Red tricolor devised by Tsar Peter the Great.
Peter the Great's tricolour was the merchant flag of the Russian Empire. However, the flags used by the Russian Army were regimental flags with the Double-Headed Eagle, the official Imperial symbol, in the centre. The Imperial Standard was the black Double-Headed Eagle displayed on a golden banner, represented the Empire and the Emperor, the absolute ruler of Russia. [7] When the black-yellow-white flag was in use between 1858 and 1896, the red-blue-white flag was still used as a merchant ensign.[7]
1914–1917
Flag for private use; also planned State Flag
A tricolour of horizontal stripes, white, blue and red, with a yellow canton with the coat of arms.
Historical State Flags of Russia[]
The historical State Flags of Russia were signed by decree to officially represent the country as a whole. The Black, Yellow, and White tricolor became the first official flag of Russia in 1858, with previous flags being de facto unofficial flags of Russia.
Flag
Date
Use
Description
1858–1896
First official State Flag of the Russian Empire and Flag for "Celebrations"[8][9][10][11][12]
On June 11, 1858, by decree of Alexander II, the heraldic colors of the empire were approved for flags, banners and other items (draperies, rosettes, etc.). It became the national flag in 1865. The white-blue-red flag was reintroduced in 1883 but the black-yellow-white remained in use until it was fully replaced in all circumstances in 1896.
1883–1917
National flag
On April 28, 1883, Alexander III amended the 1858 decree to be replaced exclusively with the white-blue-red colours. This meant that the white-blue-red flag was now to be used on land in addition to at seas. It fully replaced the black-yellow-white flag when it became the only official National flag in time for the coronation of Nicholas II in 1896.
1917–1920
The Russian Provisional Government and the Russian Republic kept using the same flag after the monarchy was overthrown in the February Revolution. During the Russian Civil War, it was also used by Admiral Kolchak's Russian State and the White movement overall.
1918
First flag of the Russian SFSR
The first flag of the RSFSR was established by decree on April 13th, 1918. The description of the decree stated that the "flag of the Russian Republic is set on a red banner with the inscription: Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic." The decree however did not specify the exact shade of red used on the flag, nor the exact placement of the inscription, the ratio of the flag itself and the color and font of the words. There is no evidence to suggest such a flag was ever used.
1918–1937
Second flag of the Russian SFSR
Red banner with stylized "RSFSR" abbreviation in gold Cyrillic letters in the golden bordered honour canton
1937–1954
Third flag of the Russian SFSR
Red banner with stylized "RSFSR" abbreviation in gold Cyrillic letters in the honour canton
1954–1991
Fourth flag of the Russian SFSR
The flag of the Soviet Union with a blue band at the hoist
1991
Fifth flag of the Russian SFSR
Flag of Russian SFSR from 1 November 1991 (de facto from 22 August 1991, after the August Putsch) to 25 December 1991
1991–1993
First flag of the Russian Federation
National flag of the Russian Federation from 25 December 1991 to 11 December 1993, when it was replaced by the present version
1993–present
Second flag of the Russian Federation
The current flag of Russia is the second flag in the Russian Federation's history, it subsequently replaced the first flag of the Russian Federation, which was a modified variant of the first civil flag of Russia. The current flag of the Russian Federation revived the historical tri-color flag of the Tsardom of Russia after 288 years since its inception as the first civil flag of Russia. Its usage was discarded and even illegal after the Bolsheviks took control of Russia in 1917. However, during the Russian Civil War, the tri-color continued its usage by the Russian White Movement and White army until their defeat in 1923. The tri-color became a symbol of opposition, and a relic of tsarist rule, and thus it was punishable to wield the tri-color in public. During perestroika, the tri-color was no longer a punishable offense, and its usage was used by opposition parties and democratic movements prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Historical banners of Russia[]
Banner
Date
Use
Description
c. 1385
Banner of the Novgorod Republic
Banner used by the Novgorod Republic, depicting a white castle on a red field.
c. 1400
Banner of the Principality of Polotsk
Reconstructed banner used by Polotsk in the Battle of Grunwald (1410) as a part of Lithuania.
1552
Banner of the Most Merciful Savior
Banner used by Ivan IV during the Siege of Kazan.
1610s
Banner of Dmitry Pozharsky
Battle banner of the Second Volunteer Army depicting appearance of Archangel Michael to Joshua.
1696
Armorial Banner of Peter the Great
The armorial banner of Peter the Great was created in 1696. Made from red taffeta with a white border, the banner depicted a golden eagle hovering over the sea. On the chest of the eagle in the circle is the Savior, next to the Holy Spirit and the holy apostles Peter and Paul. The banner was likely made for the second Azov campaign.
Historical standards of Russia[]
Standard
Date
Use
Description
1703–1742
Imperial Standard at sea
Adopted under the rule of Peter the Great.[13][14]
Russian Imperial Standard introduced by Paul I. This flag is depicted on many documents of that era [15]
c. 1835
Imperial Standard on land
In the album of flags of 1835, an Imperial Standard used at palaces was reported.[13]
1858–1917
Imperial Standard on land
Standard of the Emperor of Russia on land, adopted in 1858.[13][14]
1991
Presidential Standard (unofficial)
De facto unofficial Standard of the President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, used during the inauguration of Boris Yeltsin on July 10, 1991.[16][17]
1994–present
Presidential Standard
Current Presidential Standard of the Russian Federation.
Flags of Russian cities[]
Flag
Date
Use
Description
1997–present
Flag of Astrakhan
A crown above sword on a white background with a blue wave pattern at the bottom.
1995–present
Flag of Barnaul
The arms of the city of Barnaul on a blue background.
2002–present
Flag of Chelyabinsk
A camel in front of a wall on a green and yellow background.
2002–present
Flag of Cherepovets
A blue pall on a golden background.
1996–present
Flag of Irkutsk
2003–present
Flag of Ivanovo
a woman using a spindle on an all blue background.
2000–present
Flag of Izhevsk
1996–present
Flag of Kaliningrad
a coat of arms in front of a ship on an all blue background.
2000–present
Flag of Kaluga
2004–present
Flag of Kazan
A dragon walking on a mostly white background with a thin green line at the bottom.
2010–present
Flag of Kirov
A hand holding a bow above a cross on an all yellow background.
2006–present
Flag of Krasnodar
1995–present
Flag of Krasnoyarsk
2000–present
Flag of Kursk
2004–present
Flag of Magnitogorsk
A black triangle on a silver‐colored background.
1995–present
Flag of Moscow
2006–present
Flag of Nizhny Novgorod
A bright red deer on a white-colored background.
2006–present
Flag of Nizhny Tagil
The coat of arm of Nizhny Tagil on a Maroon Background.
Flag of Norilsk
A polar bear holding a key on a vertically divided blue and red background.
Flag of Novokuznetsk
Flag of Novosibirsk
Flag of Omsk
Flag of Orenburg
Flag of Oryol
Flag of Perm
A bear carrying a book beneath a cross on an all red background.
Flag of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Flag of Petrozavodsk
Flag of Pskov
Flag of Rostov-on-Don
Flag of Ryazan
A crown sitting above and to the left of a man holding a sword on an all yellow background.
1992–present
Flag of Saint Petersburg
An anchor and a hook crossing each other with a scepter in the intersection of the two, all on a red background.
Flag of Salekhard
Flag of Samara
A coat of arms above the name of the city in front of a horizontally divided red white and blue background.
Flag of Saratov
A coat of arms in front of a horizontally divided blue and white background.
Flag of Sergiyev Posad
The walls of a city with two axes floating above it on a blue background.
Flag of Sochi
Flag of Stavropol
Flag of Suzdal
A bird wearing a crown on a horizontally divided blue and red background.
Flag of Tolyatti
Flag of Tomsk
a rearing horse on a 2/3 green 1/3 white background.
Flag of Tula
Flag of Tver
Flag of Ufa
Flag of Ulan-Ude
Flag of Ulyanovsk
A vertical triband of blue, white, and blue, with a golden crown in the middle of the white stripe.
Flag of Veliky Novgorod
Flag of Vladimir
A lion holding a cross and wearing a crown on an all red background.
Flag of Vladivostok
A Coat of arms in front of a blue Saltire on a red background.
1999–present
Flag of Volgograd
The arms of the city of Volgograd on a red background.
Flag of Vologda
God reaching out from the clouds holding a sword and cruciger on a red background.
Flag of Voronezh
Flag of Yakutsk
1996–present
Flag of Yaroslavl
The arms of the city of Yaroslavl on a blue background.
Flag of Yekaterinburg
A furnace and well on a horizontally divided green, yellow and blue background.
Historical flags of the Soviet Union[]
Flag
Date
Use
Description
1922–1923
First flag of the Soviet Union
The first flag of the Soviet Union is a red flag with the state emblem in the center and fimbriated in white.
1923–1924
Second flag of the Soviet Union
The second flag of the Soviet Union with the golden fimbriated canton, adopted shortly after the end of the Russian Civil War.
1924–1936
Third flag of the Soviet Union
The third flag of the Soviet Union.
1936–1955
Fourth flag of the Soviet Union
The fourth flag of the Soviet Union, this design was prominently used during the Second World War.
^Свод морских постановлений. Книга десятая. Морской устав. Издание 1901 года. С.-Петербург: Типография Морского Министерства в Главном Адмиралтействе. 1902. pp. 340.
Symbol of Victory Banner
Banner of Victory
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