On September 4, 1991, the blue-and-yellow national flag was raised for the first time over the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. It appeared over the Ukrainian Parliament ten days after Ukraine’s declaration of independence.
In honor of this memorable event, a solemn flag-raising ceremony was held outside the parliament building. The ceremony was attended by the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, members of parliament from the 9th and 1st convocations, as well as the leadership and staff of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
During the event, the historical significance of the blue-and-yellow flag for Ukrainian statehood and its role in the struggle for Ukraine’s independence were highlighted.
“National symbols are special emblems that embody a nation’s history, its destiny, and its struggle for freedom. For thirteen years now, the modern military history of our national flag has been unfolding. It has become one of the symbols of Ukrainian resistance, the struggle for independence, and freedom,” said Ivan Zaiets, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament in the 1st–4th and 6th convocations and founder of the modern Ukrainian state.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, emphasized that the raising of the blue-and-yellow flag over the Parliament in 1991 was a significant event in the history of Ukrainian statehood.
“Today is an important day in the history of Ukraine’s statehood, because 35 years ago, the blue-and-yellow flag was raised over the Verkhovna Rada building for the first time. The flag flew here in 1991, in 2022, and will always fly here,” Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized.
