Donetsk–Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic, 1918 The Donetsk–Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic was a se

Donetsk–Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic, 1918

The Donetsk–Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic was a self-declared Soviet republic of the Russian SFSR founded on 12 February 1918 and sought independence from Ukraine. It claimed the Donbass, Kharkov, Yekaterinoslav, and part of the Kherson Governorates.

If the flag looks familiar to you, it is probably because the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic uses a similar one today. There is a more or less official meaning behind the colours (red for freedom, blue for water and black for coal), but I think the main reason for the design is the resemblance to the Russian flag.

Though the Soviet government of Russia supported it as the existence of the state set an anarchy in the region, it never recognised it. One month after its declaration of independence, it became a republic within Ukraine until the last was fully occupied by the German forces in support of the Central Rada.