On February 19, 1992, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved Trident (Tryzub) as the Small Coat of Arms of Ukraine. 

This decision reaffirmed continuity with the Ukrainian People’s Republic, which had approved the Tryzub as its state emblem in 1918.

The Tryzub has a thousand-year history: in the times of Rus it was a Riuryk dynasty symbol and appeared on coins, seals, and weapons. In the 20th century, it became a symbol of Ukraine’s struggle for independence, was banned by the Soviet regime, yet withstood as a mark of our statehood and freedom.

After Ukraine restored independence in 1991, reinstating the Tryzub as the Small State Emblem was an act of historical justice. Today, it stands as a symbol of Ukrainian sovereignty, unity, and continuity for Ukrainians at home and around the world.