List of Russian flags

This is a list of flags used in Russia.

Flag of the Russian Federation
FlagSymbolDateUseDescription
1705–1920;
1993–present		 State flag of RussiaA 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

A majority of the flags of the Russian Armed Forces mimic the flag designs of the Imperial Russian Army and Navy, while some flags are directly based on Soviet-era flags. Most notably, the flag of the Russian Airborne troops is based on the flag of the Soviet Airborne troops, and the flag of the Russian Aerospace forces is based on the Soviet Air Force flag. Many Russian military flags and regiment banners employ the Cross of Saint George within their design, which was heavily in use by the Imperial Russia Army up to the early 20th century. These military banners shared many similarities to the regiment banners of the Prussian Army, which in some cases looked almost identical to each other. Around 2006, many traditional Russian banners replaced Soviet-era regiment banners in favor of moving away from Communist oriented iconography.

Flags of service branches
FlagDateUseDescription
2003–presentFlag of the Ministry of Defence
2004–presentFlag of the Russian Ground Forces
1712–1917Ensign of the Imperial Russian NavyA 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–presentEnsign of the modern day Russian NavyThe 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–presentFlag of the Russian Aerospace Forces
2004–presentFlag of the Russian Airborne ForcesA bicolour of horizontal stripes, blue and green defaced with the Russian Airborne Forces emblem
2004–presentFlag of the Strategic Missile Forces

Flags of the Ground Forces

Flags of the arms of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation

FlagDateUseDescription
2005–presentFlag of the Engineer Troops
2005–presentFlag of the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops
2006–presentFlag of the Missile troops and artillery
2007–presentFlag of the Air Defence Troops of the Ground ForcesNot to be confused with the Air Defence Troops of the Aerospace Forces
2007–presentFlag of the Communication Troops
2005–presentFlag of the Main Directorate of the General Staff (military intelligence)
2007–presentFlag of the Electronic Warfare Troops
2007–presentFlag of the Railway Troops
2014–presentFlag of the Logistical Support of the Armed Forces

Flags of the Aerospace Forces

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.

FlagDateUseDescription
2004–presentFlag of the Russian Air Force
2015–presentFlag of the Russian Space ForcesLight 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)
FlagDateUseDescription
2004–2009Flag of the Rear of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
2005–2011Flag of military units and organizations of cantonment and military equipment

Military district flags
FlagDateUseDescription
2016–presentFlag of Western Military District
2016–presentFlag of Southern Military District
2016–presentFlag of Central Military District
2016–presentFlag of Eastern Military District

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)DateUseDescription
2000–2003Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian FederationThe 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–presentBanner of the Armed Forces of the Russian FederationThe 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–presentBanner of the Russian Ground ForcesThe 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–presentBanner of the Russian Air Force/Aerospace ForcesThe 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–presentBanner of the Russian NavyThe 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.

BannerDateUseDescription
1996–2007 Symbol of Victory BannerThe Symbol of Victory Banner was an alternative to using the historic Victory Banner, which contained the hammer and sickle.
2007–present Banner of VictoryThe Banner of Victory raised on the Reichstag in 1945. Replicas of the Victory Banner can be used alongside the national flag on Victory Day.

Command Standards
StandardDateUseDescription
2003–presentStandard of the Minister of Defence
–presentStandard of the Chief of the General Staff
–presentStandard of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces
–presentStandard of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy
2015–presentStandard of the Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces
–presentStandard of the Commander of the Air Force – Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces
–presentStandard of the Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces
–presentStandard of the Commander of the Space Forces
–presentStandard of the Commander of the Airborne Forces

Flags of paramilitary organizations
FlagDateUseDescription
1992–presentFlag of the Ministry of Emergency Situations
1992–presentDepartmental flag of the Ministry of Emergency Situations
2003–presentFlag of the Border Service of the Federal Security Service
2008–presentEnsign of the Russian Coast GuardA blue and white Saltire on a light green background.
1827–1871Flag of the Customs Service of the Russian Empire A white Saltire on a dark green background.
1994–presentFlag of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation
2001–presentFlag of the Courier Service of the Russian Federation (GFS)
2005–presentFlag of Federal Penitentiary Service
Flag of the Main Directorate of Special Programs of the President of the Russian Federation
2008Flag of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Russia
Flag of Investigative Committee of Russia
2006–presentFlag of Federal service of bailiffs
Flag of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation
2007–2016Flag of Federal Migration Service of Russia
2000–2016Flag of the Federal service of special construction of the Russian Federation

Flags of special services
FlagDateUseDescription
2001–2003Flag of Federal agency of the governmental communication and the information at the President of the Russian Federation
2002–presentFlag of the Federal Protective Service
2010–presentFlag of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation
2009–presentFlag of Foreign Intelligence Service
2015–2016Flag of the Internal Troops of Russia
2016–presentFlag of National Guard Forces Command
2016–presentFlag of the National Guard of Russia

Historical flags of Russia

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.

FlagDateUseDescription
1668–1693Ensign of the ship OryolFirst naval flag of the Tsardom of Russia.
1693–1700Flag of the Tsar of Russia
1705–1917Merchant flagPeter 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]
1914–1917Flag for private use; also planned State FlagA 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.

FlagDateUseDescription
1858–1896First 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.
1883–1917National flagOn 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.
1917–1920The 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.
1918First flag of the Russian SFSRThe 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.
1918–1937Second flag of the Russian SFSRRed banner with stylized "RSFSR" abbreviation in gold Cyrillic letters in the golden bordered honour canton
1937–1954Third flag of the Russian SFSRRed banner with stylized "RSFSR" abbreviation in gold Cyrillic letters in the honour canton
1954–1991Fourth flag of the Russian SFSRThe flag of the Soviet Union with a blue band at the hoist
1991Fifth flag of the Russian SFSRFlag of Russian SFSR from 1 November 1991 (de facto from 22 August 1991, after the August Putsch) to 25 December 1991
1991–1993First flag of the Russian FederationNational flag of the Russian Federation from 25 December 1991 to 11 December 1993, when it was replaced by the present version
1993–presentSecond flag of the Russian FederationThe 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
BannerDateUseDescription
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.
1696Armorial Banner of Peter the GreatThe 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
StandardDateUseDescription
1703–1742Imperial Standard at seaAdopted under the rule of Peter the Great.[13][14]
1742–1799Imperial StandardRussian Imperial Standard used at palaces.[13]
1799–1801Imperial StandardRussian Imperial Standard introduced by Paul I. This flag is depicted on many documents of that era [15]
c. 1835Imperial Standard on landIn the album of flags of 1835, an Imperial Standard used at palaces was reported.[13]
1858–1917Imperial Standard on landStandard of the Emperor of Russia on land, adopted in 1858.[13][14]
1991Presidential 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–presentPresidential StandardCurrent Presidential Standard of the Russian Federation.

Flags of Russian cities
FlagDateUseDescription
1997–presentFlag of AstrakhanA crown above sword on a white background with a blue wave pattern at the bottom.
1995–presentFlag of BarnaulThe arms of the city of Barnaul on a blue background.
2002–presentFlag of ChelyabinskA camel in front of a wall on a green and yellow background.
2002–presentFlag of CherepovetsA blue pall on a golden background.
1996–presentFlag of Irkutsk
2003–presentFlag of Ivanovoa woman using a spindle on an all blue background.
2000–presentFlag of Izhevsk
1996–presentFlag of Kaliningrada coat of arms in front of a ship on an all blue background.
2000–presentFlag of Kaluga
2004–presentFlag of KazanA dragon walking on a mostly white background with a thin green line at the bottom.
2010–presentFlag of KirovA hand holding a bow above a cross on an all yellow background.
2006–presentFlag of Krasnodar
1995–presentFlag of Krasnoyarsk
2000–presentFlag of Kursk
2004–presentFlag of MagnitogorskA black triangle on a silver‐colored background.
1995–presentFlag of Moscow
2006–presentFlag of Nizhny NovgorodA bright red deer on a white-colored background.
2006–presentFlag of Nizhny TagilThe coat of arm of Nizhny Tagil on a Maroon Background.
Flag of NorilskA 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 PermA 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 RyazanA crown sitting above and to the left of a man holding a sword on an all yellow background.
1992–presentFlag of Saint PetersburgAn 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 SamaraA coat of arms above the name of the city in front of a horizontally divided red white and blue background.
Flag of SaratovA coat of arms in front of a horizontally divided blue and white background.
Flag of Sergiyev PosadThe walls of a city with two axes floating above it on a blue background.
Flag of Sochi
Flag of Stavropol
Flag of SuzdalA bird wearing a crown on a horizontally divided blue and red background.
Flag of Tolyatti
Flag of Tomska 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 UlyanovskA vertical triband of blue, white, and blue, with a golden crown in the middle of the white stripe.
Flag of Veliky Novgorod
Flag of VladimirA lion holding a cross and wearing a crown on an all red background.
Flag of VladivostokA Coat of arms in front of a blue Saltire on a red background.
1999–presentFlag of VolgogradThe arms of the city of Volgograd on a red background.
Flag of VologdaGod reaching out from the clouds holding a sword and cruciger on a red background.
Flag of Voronezh
Flag of Yakutsk
1996–presentFlag of YaroslavlThe arms of the city of Yaroslavl on a blue background.
Flag of YekaterinburgA furnace and well on a horizontally divided green, yellow and blue background.

Historical flags of the Soviet Union
FlagDateUseDescription
1922–1923First flag of the Soviet UnionThe first flag of the Soviet Union is a red flag with the state emblem in the center and fimbriated in white.
1923–1924Second flag of the Soviet UnionThe second flag of the Soviet Union with the golden fimbriated canton, adopted shortly after the end of the Russian Civil War.
1924–1936Third flag of the Soviet UnionThe third flag of the Soviet Union.
1936–1955Fourth flag of the Soviet UnionThe fourth flag of the Soviet Union, this design was prominently used during the Second World War.
1955–1991Fifth flag of the Soviet UnionThe fifth and final flag of the Soviet Union.

See also

References
  1. Цвета Русского Государственного национального флага (in Russian).
  2. "Высочайшее повеление о признании во всех случаях бело-сине-красного флага национальным — Викитека". ru.wikisource.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  3. Свод морских постановлений. Книга десятая. Морской устав. Издание 1901 года. С.-Петербург: Типография Морского Министерства в Главном Адмиралтействе. 1902. pp. 340.
  4. "Флаги России-VEXILLOGRAPHIA". www.vexillographia.ru.
  5. "Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 04.02.2002 № 141". sbornik-zakonov.ru.
  6. "Федеральный закон о знамени ВСРФ, знамени ВМФ, знаменах иных видов ВСРФ и знаменах других войск". Российская газета.
  7. "флаги Российской империи". www.vexillographia.ru.
  8. Bonnell, Victoria E. Russia at the barricades: eyewitness accounts of the August 1991 coup. M.E. Sharpe, 1994, p92
  9. Condee, Nancy. Soviet hieroglyphics: visual culture in late twentieth-century Russia. Indiana University Press, 1995, p49
  10. Saunders, Nicholas J. Matters of conflict: material culture, memory and the First World War. Routledge, 2004, p129
  11. National Museum of Science and Technology (Canada). Material history review. Canada Science and Technology Museum, 2000, p46
  12. "Russia, 1914–1917". www.crwflags.com.
  13. Russian Institute for Heraldry and Vexillology. "штандарты императорской семьи". www.vexillographia.ru. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  14. "Tsar's personal flags". FOTW. CRWFLAGS. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  15. "Manifesto of Emperor Paul I on the full coat of arms of the All-Russian Empire. Approved December 16, 1800". projects.rusarchives.ru. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  16. "Как спасали Знамя РСФСР". rambler.ru. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  17. "Первый президент России Борис Николаевич Ельцин принимает присягу (1991)". Ельцин Центр.
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