🇷🇺

Flag of Russia

Europe

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Quick Facts

Capital
Moscow
Flag adopted
1993
Population
146,028,325
Area
17,098,246 km²
Languages
Russian
Currency
Russian ruble (₽) — RUB
Demonym
Russian
Government
semi-presidential federation
Subregion
Eastern Europe
Driving side
Right
Timezones
UTC+03:00, UTC+04:00 +7 more
Independence
1991

Religions

  • Russian Orthodox 17.5%
  • Muslim 12.5%
  • Protestant 2%

About This Flag

The Russian flag consists of three equal horizontal bands of white on top, blue in the middle, and red on the bottom. The tricolor was first used by Tsar Peter the Great in the 1690s as a naval ensign, inspired by the Dutch flag he encountered during his visit to the Netherlands to study shipbuilding.

White represents nobility, frankness, and the snowy Russian landscape. Blue symbolizes faithfulness, honesty, and the vastness of the Russian sky and waters.

Red stands for courage, generosity, and love. The flag was banned during the Soviet era (1917-1991) and replaced with the red hammer-and-sickle banner.

It was restored on August 22, 1991, during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and officially adopted on December 11, 1993.

What the colors & design mean

White represents nobility, peace, and the vast snowy landscapes of Russia. Blue symbolizes faithfulness, constancy, and the Russian sky. Red stands for courage, the blood of defenders of the fatherland, and the energy of the Russian people.

white blue red

Pattern: Horizontal Stripes

Bordering countries (14)

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan 🇧🇾 Belarus 🇨🇳 China 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇬🇪 Georgia 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan 🇰🇵 North Korea 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇲🇳 Mongolia 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Fun Facts

  • Peter the Great introduced the tricolor in the 1690s after visiting the Netherlands, where he was so impressed by Dutch shipbuilding and their flag that he adapted the design for Russia — rearranging the red, white, and blue.
  • The Russian tricolor was suppressed for 74 years during the Soviet period (1917-1991), replaced by the red flag with hammer and sickle — its restoration in 1991 symbolized the end of communist rule.
  • August 22 is celebrated as National Flag Day in Russia, marking the date in 1991 when the tricolor was raised over the Russian White House during the defeat of the anti-Gorbachev coup.
  • Russia is by far the largest country in the world by area, spanning 11 time zones from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka.

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🇷🇺 Cape Verde 🇷🇺 Liberia 🇷🇺 Cambodia 🇷🇺 Laos 🇷🇺 North Korea

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