The 2022/2023 national championship season kicked off on Ukraine's State Flag Day with a match between "Shakhtar" and "Metalist 1925" at NSK "Olympic" in Kyiv, featuring an unique blue-and-yellow banner.

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

The history of this flag began on July 27, 1976, during a semi-final football match at the Olympic Games between teams from the USSR and GDR. In the second half of the game, a Canadian of Ukrainian descent named Danilo Migal ran onto the field at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal with this symbol. Danilo danced the hopak and shouted: "Freedom for Ukraine!" This way he supported Ukrainian football players — members of Dynamo Kyiv, who made up most of the USSR team's roster. His patriotic act also sent a clear signal to the world: Ukraine would never reconcile with Soviet occupation and would eventually gain independence. And it did.

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

Before the start of a new football season in our country — under full-scale war conditions — Danilo Migal handed over the historic flag to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The head of state played a key role in reviving football life in our country. And now he is passing this unique banner to the football community as a symbol of unyielding courage and patriotism, as well as a symbol connecting generations of Ukrainians and bright victories for Ukrainian football.

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

"Today at NSK 'Olympic', we together with participants of the USSR team match in Montreal — Oleg Blokhin and Volodymyr Onyshchenko, as well as captains of teams participating in the first game of the 2022/2023 UPL season, for the first time raised this unique flag in our country. And then it will travel with clubs across Ukraine to inspire as many cities as possible with its special energy. In the future, I sincerely believe, Danilo Migal's flag will also be in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Mariupol, Simferopol and Sevastopol. Symbolically, the first kick of the ball in this match was made by a soldier from the Azov Regiment wounded fighting for Kyiv who (along with all our soldiers) was applauded by players and coaches of Shakhtar and Metalist 1925.

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

The new season begins with a new tradition — teams coming out onto the field with flags of Ukraine, in colors of freedom and strength. Football life in independent Ukraine is reviving under full-scale war conditions. The tournament mottos are "As long as we play, we cannot be defeated!" and "We are one boldness!" I thank President of Ukraine, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, MVS, National Police, DSSN, UPL, PFL and the UAF team for successfully preparing and starting the 2022/2023 season! Football in support of the Armed Forces and for our common victory!" — commented on this significant event President of the Ukrainian Football Association, UEFA Executive Committee member Andriy Pavelko.