Aug 24, 2021
Ukraine Independence Day 2021
This Doodle’s Key Themes
On this day in 1991, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence. Today’s Doodle celebrates Ukraine’s Independence Day, an annual commemoration of the nation’s rich cultural heritage and journey toward freedom. The Doodle uses the colors of the national flag of Ukraine--blue and yellow. A stylized image of a Cossack chaika (Ukrainian for seagull) is in the center with a Ukrainian trident on its sail.
Cossack chaikas were light, maneuverable sailing boats of the Zaporozhye Cossacks in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed that the chaika owes its name to the unusual speed and lightness that the boat demonstrated on the water. The innovative design of the Cossack chaikas gave them an advantage over other vessels.
In addition to their use as defensive vessels, chaikas could capsize while retaining the air inside the submerged reed hull—a feature that historically played a key role in reconnaissance and infiltration missions. This unique Ukrainian innovation allowed chaika crews to breathe underneath the vessel as they walked along the river floor undetected!
Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!
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