Today is Ukraine’s Independence Day and it falls on August 24, marking the anniversary of the country’s declaration of independence in 1991, one of the major catalysts in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
However, for the safety precautions of the civilians, considering the ongoing Russian invasion, the country’s capital Kyiv banned Independence Day celebrations, saying they would provide a target for Russian forces to attack.
Warning of potential harm to civilians, a US official told Reuters that Russia “is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days.”
Kyiv is far from the front lines and has only rarely been hit by Russian missiles since Ukraine repelled a ground offensive to seize the city in March.
Yesterday, on 23 August Ukraine celebrated a flag ceremony or National Flag Day. After the proclamation of the independence of Ukraine in 1991, national symbols, anthem, flag, and coat of arms began to guard the establishment of independence and sovereignty of the state.
Researchers of the history of Ukraine found that these two colors, blue and yellow were from the time of Kievan Rus. The use of yellow and blue colors on flags of Ukraine is traced to the adoption of Christianity. In later times, the forms and colors of flags were diversified, and additional images and inscriptions appeared. The development of the “Cossack” had a significant influence on the Ukrainian flag. When the monarchs hired the “Cossacks” for military battles, they presented them with jewels, which remained and were later used by the Cossacks. Zaporizhzhia was represented by a flag. The “Zaporizhzhya Sich Great Ensign” was crimson with a depiction of the ‘White Archangel Michael’ on the front and a white Greek cross surrounded by golden skies on the reverse. The city of Zaporizhzhia was also the birthplace of the Ukrainian maritime flag.
In the second half of the 20th century, blue-yellow passed the path of national recognition and legal registration. There were singular attempts to bring the Ukrainian flag. The issue of national symbols in particular the flag has repeatedly raised democratic forces. At the time of the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence, the national blue-yellow flag was already hanging over many Ukrainian cities and villages. Then was established in the “Verkhovna Rada” hall in July 1990 and also raised to Khreshchatyk.
Thus, on September 4, 1991, after the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence, the national blue-yellow flag was raised over the “Verkhovna Rada” of Ukraine.
