Since 1991, after the decay of the Soviet Union, the blue and yellow flag has been actually used as the Flag of Independent Ukraine.
On 18 September 1991, the presidium of the Supreme Council of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine) juridically adopted the official Flag of Ukraine. On 28 January 1992, the order of the colours on the official Flag was enshrined: the blue colour is the upper one, while the yellow is the lower one. This arrangement became the National Flag of Ukraine as the symbol of the Independent Ukraine.
The National Flag of Ukraine is the banner of two equally sized horizontal stripes of blue and yellow.
The ratio of the banner width to the banner length is 2:3. This decision is enshrined in Article 20 of the Ukrainian Constitution.
From its early times, Ukraine has been a land of wheat harvesting. The blue sky over the golden field is the sense standing for the National Flag of Ukraine. The National Flag of Ukraine is officially called blue and yellow flag, as the flag colours are named from above, according to the heraldry rules.
The Flag can be raised on a mast, hanged out at the building entrances of the state institutions, public organisations or private houses and fly horizontally.
At public events, the participants can drape the flag over their shoulders or wrap it over themselves for expressing their attitudes.
The National Flag of Ukraine is to be treated respectfully: people tilt their heads or bow down to it, on occasions they take a knee and kiss the edge of the Flag. The military honours by saluting are provided towards the Flag.
On 23 August 2004, the President of Ukraine signed Decree No. 987/2004 “On the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine”.
“In honour of the many centuries of the History of Ukraine, National Symbols of the Independent Ukraine and pursuing the aim of fostering respect for the National Symbols of Ukraine”, this decree established the new holiday - the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine, being observed every year on the 23d of August.
Any public desecration of the National Banner of Ukraine is punishable under articles 298, 338 and 296 (part one) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
