Flag of Russia

Meaning and history of the flag of Russia

The flag of Russia consists of three equal horizontal stripes: white on top, blue in the middle, and red on the bottom. Known as the Russian tricolor, it was first adopted as a naval ensign by Tsar Peter the Great in 1696, inspired by the flag of the Netherlands, a country he deeply admired for its maritime power.

White symbolizes nobility and candor, blue stands for loyalty and honesty, and red embodies courage, generosity, and love. After decades under the red Soviet flag with its hammer and sickle, the tricolor was restored as the national flag on August 22, 1991, a date now celebrated annually as Russia's Flag Day. Its design has influenced the flags of numerous Slavic nations and served as a model for the pan-Slavic colors. It is identical in colors and layout to the flags of Slovakia, Slovenia, and Serbia, which are distinguished only by their respective coats of arms.

You can view the flag of Russia in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Russia profile, its map, or the current local time in Moscow.