Cossack cross

The Cossack cross (Ukrainian: Козацький хрест, romanized: Kozatskyi khrest) is a type of the Templar cross used by the Ukrainian Ground Forces.^[1][2][3][4] It is frequently used in Ukraine as a memorial sign to fallen soldiers^[5][6][7][8] and as military awards.^[3][9]

A Cossack cross on the flag of Poltava Oblast

A Cossack cross on the flag of Volyn Oblast

History

Historically it was used by Cossacks, most prominently the Zaporozhian Host.

In modern times cross has been adapted as part of the emblem of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine, and is depicted on the flags and coat of arms of several Ukrainian regions, districts and cities, like Konotop, Zinkiv and Zolotonosha.^[3][10][11] The Memorial to Ukrainians shot at Sandarmokh uses a Cossack cross.^[12][13][8]

Russo-Ukrainian War

As of September 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces started to paint a simplified white Cossack cross on their vehicles as an IFF marker designating Ukrainian vehicles from a distance.^[14]

Examples

• 
  Flag of the Zaporozhian Sich
• 
  Historical Cossack flag from 1651 exhibited in the Armémuseum in Stockholm^[15]
• 
  Emblem of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
• 
  Emblem of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
• 
  Security Service of Ukraine Emblem
• 
  State Service of Ukraine for Emergencies
• 
  The Ukrainian Registered Cossacks
• 
  Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky
• 
  Order of Danylo Halytsky
• 
  The Badge of Honour
• 
  Medal For Supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine
• 
  Flag of Poltava Oblast
• 
  Flag of the former Bobrovytsia Raion with a Cossack cross under its coat-of-arms
• 
  Flag of Azov (Russia) with a Cossack cross
• 
  Flag of Cetinje
• 
  Coat of arms of Montenegro with three crosses pattée wedge on its regalia
• 
  Coat of arms of Rivne Oblast
• 
  Coat of arms of Konotop
• 
  Memorial at Sandarmokh
• 
  Cossack crosses seen at the Usatove cemetery
• 
  Plain Cossack cross
• 
  Vehicle marking during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
• 
  Vehicle marking during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
• 
  Soldier of the 17th Tank Brigade painting a cross on a captured tank

See also

• Ukraine portal

• Cross pattée
• Balkenkreuz
• Iron Cross
• Maltese cross