100th anniversary of the adoption of the Ukrainian national symbol - the tryzub
100th anniversary of the first declaration of Ukrainian independence Ukraine first became independent with the Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917 to 1921, but the resulting Ukrainian Republic (in 1919 merged from the Ukrainian People's Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic) was quickly subsumed in the Soviet Union. As the area of Ukraine fell into warfare and anarchy, it was also fought over by German and Austrian forces, the Red Army of Bolshevik Russia, the White Forces of General Denikin, the Polish Army, anarchists led by Nestor Makhno. Kyiv itself was occupied by many different armies. The city was captured by the Bolsheviks on 9 February 1918, by the Germans on 2 March 1918, by the Bolsheviks a second time on 5 February 1919, by the White Army on 31 August 1919, by Bolsheviks for a third time on 15 December 1919, by the Polish Army on 6 May 1920, and finally by the Bolsheviks for the fourth time on 12 June 1920. The defeat in the Polish-Ukrainian War and then the failure of the Piłsudski's and Petliura's Warsaw agreement of 1920 to oust the Bolsheviks during the Kyiv Operation led almost to the occupation of Poland itself. In course of the new Polish-Soviet War purpose of which changed from the 1920 led to the signing of the Peace of Riga in March 1921, and after which the part of Ukraine west of Zbruch had been incorporated into Poland, and the east became part of the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. |
The official Ukrainian coat of arms is Tryzub. It is a gold trident on an azure background. This national symbol dates back to Kievan Rus’ times, when the tryzub was the Rurik dynasty coat of arms.This symbol was stamped on silver and gold coins which were issued by Prince Volodymyr the Great in X century.In 1918 trident was adopted as the Ukrainian coat of arms by the government of Ukrainian National Republic. In 1921 the symbol lost its significance because of the Soviet Russia authority exercising over Ukraine. Only in 1992 after the restoration of Ukraine’s independence the trident was accepted as the National State Emblem. There are about 40 different theories about Ukrainian Tryzub origin and meaning. Among the most popular:
The National Bank of Ukraine have issued (22nd March) a new coin in celebration of Ukraine’s first declaration of statehood, which occurred in the wake of the dissolution of the Russian Empire in 1917. Events surrounding the abdication of Czar Nicholas II on the 15th March 1917 resulted in the initial declaration of independence in the spring of 1917, but this declaration would be followed by a civil conflict and a short-lived duration of statehood.
The coin is produced by the Ukrainian Mint on behalf of the National Bank and is designed by Volodymyr Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk, and Serhii Kharuk. The obverse design includes a small depiction of the state emblem of Ukraine and the year of issue, 2017, against the dark background composition which depicts the Ukrainian flag with a trident in the centre, under which is a composition signifying a shattered, broken Russian Empire (including the representation of a toppled Imperial crown seen on the ground). The mintmark of the National Bank of Ukraine is placed to the left of the main design. The reverse depicts a stylised and colourised composition of a dynamic standard-bearer of the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag. In the background, columns of demonstrators with flags and banners symbolise that dramatic historical period in Ukraine, with its mass rallies, slogans, and calls for independence, liberty, and freedom. The stylised inscription, which translates as UKRAINIAN REVOLUTION, is placed above the main design, and the dates 1917 and 1921, in two lines, below it. |
100 years Crimea was freed from Russian occupation
flag of the Crimean republic
The Crimean People's Republic (Crimean Tatar: Qırım Halq Cumhuriyeti) existed from December 1917 to January 1918 in the Crimean Peninsula. In many ways, the current invasion of Ukraine and annexation of the Crimea is part of a recurring theme in Ukrainian history: The 300 year old tug-of-war between European Ukraine and the Asiatic Russians.Crimea became part of the Russian Empire in 1783, when the Crimean Khanate was annexed, then became part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic until 1954.
During the first stages of the Russian Civil War there were a series of short-lived governments - (Crimean People's Republic, Crimean Regional Government, Crimean SSR) - but they were followed by White Russian (General Command of the Armed Forces of South Russia and later South Russian Government). In October 1921, the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of the Russian SFSR was instituted. After the Second World War and the subsequent deportation of all of the indigenous Crimean Tatars, the Crimean ASSR was stripped of its autonomy in 1946 and was downgraded to the status of an oblast of the Russian SFSR.In 1954, the Crimean Oblast was transferred from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.
During the first stages of the Russian Civil War there were a series of short-lived governments - (Crimean People's Republic, Crimean Regional Government, Crimean SSR) - but they were followed by White Russian (General Command of the Armed Forces of South Russia and later South Russian Government). In October 1921, the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of the Russian SFSR was instituted. After the Second World War and the subsequent deportation of all of the indigenous Crimean Tatars, the Crimean ASSR was stripped of its autonomy in 1946 and was downgraded to the status of an oblast of the Russian SFSR.In 1954, the Crimean Oblast was transferred from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.
