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Ukraine – Border Guard Flags

Last modified: 2023-07-29 by martin karner
Keywords: ukraine | trident | jack | naval jack | border guard |
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Overview

As for the Border Guard Flag, since I live virtually adjacent to the State Border Committee Building and see the flag almost every day, I'd like to correct the design as follows: There should not be a blue shield around the trident, merely a gold trident on a white disk trimmed in gold. In both cases (trident and circle trim), the gold should be darker than the yellow used in the flag. As to the origin of the flag, I believe a similar design was used during the Soviet period (albeit with the Soviet flag as a canton). It would not be entirely surprising, then, that modern-day Ukraine would redesign the flag by simply changing the canton. Green was the color used by the border guard during the Soviet period (insignia, uniform trim, etc.), and Ukraine continues that practice.
Interestingly, while the general design follows its Soviet predecessor, the Ukrainians have introduced at least one detail reminiscent of their earlier independence. The Customs Service flag designed for used when Ukraine was independent in 1918–1921 was white (not green) with a blue-yellow state flag in the canton and a trident on white disk. Had the modern-day Ukrainian state merely wished to copy the previous Soviet design, they would have simply inserted the state flag in the canton, but without the trident since the state flag does not feature the trident.
Petro Matiaszek, Kyiv, 13 March 1999

Recently the flag of the border guard of Ukraine was changed. The new flag reminding very much to the obe of the independentist party of Taiwan (green, with double white cross).
Jaume Ollé, 6 November 1999

Some weeks ago I reported that Ukraine Border Guard adopted new ensign. Information was provided by Andre Rukkas that casually visited the headquarters. Image was already included in the issue 14 of Flag Report (currently in print). When Andrew visited the headquarters the new flag don't are hoisted yet. The approval date is 10 February 1999 but they are not hoisted until 4 November 1999.
Jaume Ollé, 18 December 1999

First edition of Ukrainian border guard flags was adopted by general-colonel Gubenko on 6, May, 1992. Modern flags of Ukrainian border guard were adopted by Commander of Border Forces of Ukraine general-colonel B. Bannykh on 10, February, 1999 On 4, November new flags were hoisted on the ships.
Victor Lomantsov, 4 January 2001


1999 Flags

Modern flags of Ukrainian border guard were adopted by Commander of Border Forces of Ukraine General-Colonel B. Bannykh on 10 February, 1999. On 4 November new flags were hoisted on the ships.
Victor Lomantsov, 4 January 2001


Ensign

image by Željko Heimer, 11 May 2003

Ensign – green with white cross (fimbriated with green and white), national colours in the canton. Ratio – 3:2 (90:60) width of the cross – 2/15 of the flag-height widths of white and green fimbriations – 1/60 of the flag-height.
Victor Lomantsov, 4 January 2001

This flag appears at napvu.km.ua/news/znaki.htm as "Prapor Morskoi ohoroni Prikordonnih viysk Ukraini" (ensign of Sea guard of Border forces).
Dov Gutterman, Mariusz Borkowski and Victor Lomantsov, 23 June 2002

From www.heraldry.com.ua:
"Sea defence Boundary armies of Ukraine Flag – It was confirmed by the Decree N 594/2001 of President of Ukraine from August 7th, 2001. The flag of Sea protection Boundary armies of Ukraine is a rectangular green panel with the direct white cross, placed at the centre. In the top left corner of a panel is the State Flag of Ukraine. The cross has from three parties green and white lines, and green from the outer border. Width makes everyone border 1/8 width of a cross (or 1/60 heights of a panel). Width of a cross makes 2/15 heights of a panel, and together with borders – 1/5 heights of a panel.
Ratio of the parties of a panel 2:3.
Obverse and opposite parties of a panel are identical."
Dov Gutterman, 26 August 2002

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Border-Guard Ensign (---/-S- 2:3) – Green ensign with white cotized cross and the national bicolour in the canton.
Željko Heimer, 11 May 2003


Jack

image by Željko Heimer, 11 May 2003

Jack – blue-yellow with white cosacco-cross (bordered with blue) in the centre.
Victor Lomantsov, 4 January 2001

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Border-Guard Jack (2:3) – The light blue over yellow bicolour with light blue fimbriated white cross pattee in the middle.
Željko Heimer, 11 May 2003


Commander in Chief of Border Forces of Ukraine

image by Željko Heimer, 11 May 2003

Flag of Commander of Border Forces of Ukraine – like ensign but with state coat of arms in the centre.
Victor Lomantsov, 4 January 2001

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Authority in charge of Border-Guard (2:3) – The Border-Guard ensign defaced with the simplified coat of arms in the middle.
Maybe the caption that would more systematically match similar flags in Ukraine, Russia and Soviet Union would be "Commander-in-Chief of Border-Guard", whoever holds that position.
Željko Heimer, 11 May 2003


Chief of Staff  of Border Guard Force

image by Željko Heimer, 11 May 2003

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Border-Guard Chief of Staff (2:3) – The Border-Guard ensign defaced with a white disk in the middle containing within a black thin circle two black anchors in saltire.
Željko Heimer, 11 May 2003


Commander of Navy of Border Guard Forces

image by Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Chief of Naval Border-Guard (2:3) – The Border-Guard ensign defaced with a white disk in the middle containing within a black thin circle a black cabled anchors.
Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003


Miltary Commander of Border Guard Forces

image by Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Military Commander of Border-Guard (2:3) – The Border-Guard ensign defaced with two white anchors in saltire in the lower fly quarter.
Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003


Assistant of Head of Navy Department of Border Guard Forces (or Deputy Military Commander of Border-Guard)

image by Victor Lomantsov, 6 January 2001

image by Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003

According to [pay00], the cable is black based on info from A Basov.
Željko Heimer and Armand du Payrat, 25 January 2001

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Deputy Military Commander of Border-Guard (2:3) – The Border-Guard ensign defaced with a black cabled white anchor in the lower fly quarter.
Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003


Group Commander of Border Guard Forces

image by Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Border-Guard Group Commander (2:3) – White flag with the national bicolour in the canton and in the fly a white cross patte on a green disk
Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003


Commander of Division Broad-Pennant

image by Victor Lomantsov, 6 January 2001

image by Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Border-Guard Division Commander (1:3) – Yellow swallow-tailed pennant with green stripes along top and bottom and a black cabled anchor near the hoist.
Notably the anchor here, similar in design to other cabled anchors used by the BG service differs in that it is not "voided" in the top ring. This may be an error of Album, though.
Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003


Broad-Pennant of Senior Officer on Roadstead (or Border-Guard Senior Officer Afloat)

image by Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Border-Guard Senior Officer Afloat (1:3) – White swallow-tailed pennant with green tails and a black cabled anchor near the hoist. Reported by Victor Lomantsov as Broad-Pennant of Senior Officer on Roadstead.
Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003


Masthead Pennant


by Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003

According to L'Album 2000 [pay00] – Border-Guard Masthead Pennant (1:30) – Green long swallow-tailed pennant with a white cross and the national bicolour next to the hoist.
Željko Heimer, 13 May 2003


2001 Flags

At napvu.km.ua there are images of Border Guard flags. One of them is the Ensign, and others are as follows. All were adopted by Decree of president (date unknown).
Dov Gutterman, Mariusz Borkowski and Victor Lomantsov, 23 June 2002

According to www.heraldry.com.ua those flags were adopted by Decree N 594/2001 of President of Ukraine from August 7th, 2001.
Dov Gutterman, 26 August 2002


Flag of Border Forces

image by Pete Loeser, 14 August 2021

At napvu.km.ua: "Prapor Prikordonnih viysk Ukraini" (Flag of Border Forces).
Dov Gutterman, Mariusz Borkowski and Victor Lomantsov, 23 June 2002

From www.heraldry.com.ua:
It was confirmed by the Decree N 594/2001 President of Ukraine from August 7th, 2001. The Boundary armies of Ukraine flag is a rectangular panel of crimson colour with a ratio of the parties 2:3. At the centre of a panel is the Boundary armies of Ukraine emblem.
Height of an emblem makes 2/3 heights of a panel, and width – 1/2 width of a panel. The wreath diameter makes 1/4 width of a panel. Both parties of a panel are identical.
Dov Gutterman, 26 August 2002

image located by Bill Garrison, 15 July 2021

I found this Ukrainian Interior Department flag c2019, but I cannot identify it. The caption read: "Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov speaks at a news conference in Kyiv in 2019. Credit: Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters".
Source: Haaretz
Bill Garrison, 15 July 2021

The design of this flag is like that used by the Ukrainian military, but what is the green cross for? At Ukraine – Military Rank Flags we can find several similar designs. The Ministry of the Internal Affairs oversees five services, seen in the compilation below:

  image compiled by Victor Lomantsov, 16 July 2021

  1. The National Guard
  2. The National Police
  3. The Emergency Service
  4. The State Migration Service
  5. The State Border Service

In the photo with the Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, we see seven flags: five service's flags, the state flag and Flag of the Ministry. All flags are known to us except the one – crimson with green cross and the swords.

As we know, the Border Troops of Ukraine had a crimson flag with green cross without the swords (adopted in 2001) and in 2003 were transformed into the State Border Guard Service and included in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so I think that the mysterious crimson flag with a green cross and crossed swords is a flag of the State Border Guard Service. However, it is strange that even the official website of the border service so far only has the old flag of 2001.
Victor Lomantsov, 16 July 2021

If the current decree is correct, the flag above was carried over to the renamed State Border Guard Service after it was adopted in 2001. The decree for the flag itself is as follows:

APPENDIX No. 3 to the Decree of the President of Ukraine of August 7, 2001 No. 594/2001

DESCRIPTION of the flag of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine:

The flag of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is a rectangular crimson banner with an aspect ratio of 2:3. In the center of the banner is an image of the emblem of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The height of the emblem is 2/3 of the height of the banner, and the width is 1/2 the width of the banner. The diameter of the wreath is 1/4 of the width of the cloth. Both sides of the cloth are identical. Head of the Administration of the President of Ukraine V. LYTVYN"

At the top of the Decree "On the Symbols of the State Border Guard Service", it states the following note:
In the Decree and Annexes No. 1 – No. 15 the words "Border Troops", "State Committee for State Border Protection", "Chairman of the State Committee for State Border Protection of Ukraine – Commander of the Border Troops of Ukraine" in all cases are replaced by the words "State Border Guard Service", "Administration of the State Border Guard Service", "Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine "in the relevant cases in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 1227/2003 (1227/2003) of October 29, 2003)
So, I contend the flag is still the same as that we have at this page and still used for the State Border Guard Service despite the rename in 2003.
Zachary Harden, 16 July 2021

image by Eugene Ipavec, 30 July 2008

I visited Museum of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kiev in January 2008 and took photos of flags and bought some Ukrainian flags books issued in 2007.
This flag is the flag of the Frontier Service.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 2008


Colours of State Committee of Ukraine Border Defence

image from www.heraldry.com.ua

At napvu.km.ua: "Boyoviy prapor Dierzhavnogo komitietu u spravah ohoroni dierzhavnogo kordonu Ukraini" (Colours of State Committee of Ukraine Border Defence).
Dov Gutterman, Mariusz Borkowski and Victor Lomantsov, 23 June 2002

From www.heraldry.com.ua:
"State committee on protection of state border of Ukraine Battle Flag - It was confirmed by the Decree N 594/2001 of President of Ukraine from August 7th, 2001. Battle flag of State committee on protection of state border of Ukraine is a crimson square panel by the size 130?130sm.
On a face place of a Battle flag is the Boundary armies of Ukraine emblem. In the all corners of a panel are gold oak and laurel wreathes with heraldry sign of of State committee on protection of state border of Ukraine in each.
The reverse party of a flag contains the direct equilateral cross with the missing ends, gold metal edging and round dark blue medallion in the centre in a wreath from gold oak leaves. On a medallion background are the gold letters in seven lines: "State committee on protection of state border of Ukraine". In all corners of a panel are gold wreathes from oak and laurel leaves. At the centre of wreathes are gold crossed small swords and keys, imposed on them. The free parties of a flag are decorated by gold fringe.
Flagstaff is wooden and black. A flagstaff top is sagittate from yellow metal, at which centre is heraldry sign of of State committee on protection of state border of Ukraine.
On a basis of a flagstaff top attached a double green tape with bow. Edges of a tape framed by gold. The tape contains the motto, written by the gold letters: "Safety of border means power of the state" and ornamental pattern with the gold oak and viburnum foliage. On one end of a tape is the Volodymyr The Great State's Sign, on another end is the Boundary armies of Ukraine emblem. The ends of tapes are decorated by gold fringe."
Dov Gutterman, 26 August 2002


Standard of the Head of State Committee of Ukraine Border Defence

image from www.heraldry.com.ua

At napvu.km.ua: "Shtandarta Golovi Dierzhavnogo komitietu u spravah ohoroni dierzhavnogo kordonu Ukraini – Komanduvacha Prikordonnih viysk Ukraini" (Standard of the Head of State Committee of Ukraine Border Defence – Commander in Chief of Border Forces).
Dov Gutterman, Mariusz Borkowski and Victor Lomantsov, 23 June 2002

From www.heraldry.com.ua:
"Gonfalone of the Boundary armies of Ukraine Commander – It was confirmed by the Decree N 594/2001 of President of Ukraine from August 7th, 2001. Gonfalone of the Chairman of State committee on protection of state border of Ukraine – Boundary armies of Ukraine Commander – is the crimson square panel by the size 90?90sm with the mark of State committee represents on protection of state border of Ukraine. A panel on perimeter enframed by gold and ornamental pattern from oak and viburnum foliage. The free gonfalone ends are decorated by gold fringe.
The contemporary side has no images. Flagstaff is black and wooden. On the flagstaff top is sagittate from yellow metal, at the centre of it is heraldry sign of State committee on protection of state border of Ukraine. The top edge of a gonfalone is attached to pipe by cord."
Dov Gutterman, 26 August 2002


The Emblem

image from www.heraldry.com.ua

From www.heraldry.com.ua:
"It was confirmed by the Decree N 594/2001 President of Ukraine from August 7th, 2001. The Boundary armies of Ukraine emblem is a vert direct equilateral cross with the missing ends and or metal edging.
At the centre of an emblem is the or Volodymyr The Great State's Sign on an azure field in a wreath from or oak leaves."
Dov Gutterman, 26 August 2002


15th mobile border guard detachment of the State Border Guard Service

image located by William Garrison, 20 July 2023

The text on the President's website (located by William Garrison) states: "In addition, the President presented battle flags to the 3rd separate assault brigade of the AFU Ground Forces, the 5th separate assault brigade of the AFU Ground Forces, the 15th mobile border guard detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the Special Police Department 'Joint Assault Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine (Lyut)'" (picture). So this is a flag of the 15th mobile border guard detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Rob Raeside, 20 July 2023