Historical flags of Yuzovka/Donbas?

[Ataman]

I am currently planning out a White Cossack force originating from the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine.

I intend for them to have standard Don Cossack uniforms and colours, but with the addition of a Volunteer Army style chevron in the colours of either Yuzovka (known today as Donetsk) or the Donbas. Unfortunately, my research online has only turned up the modern (and quite frankly hideous) flags of the two.

I would greatly appreciate any information on the colours and design of either or preferably both of the flags.

[Mark Plant]

They would be Don Cossacks, as the Don lay claim to large stretches of what is now the Ukraine. Certainly any areas with Cossacks. So presumably they would have Don Cossack colours. Blue over yellow over red. Why is this so hideous?

[Ataman]

Using the standard colours of the Don Cossacks was my original plan. I'm quite fond of the Don Cossack flag actually, being one myself (partially) and from Donetsk no less. What I was referring to as 'hideous' were the modern flags of Donetsk and the Donbas, which are an eye-aching combination of bright blue, yellow and black.

As for why I want to know the old flags, it's simply to fit the unit's fluff. It's meant to be a fictional, local Don Cossack formation that put down socialist revolts until finally being drafted into Hetman Skoropadsky's Ukrainian army. After the latter's fall, this unit headed eastward to join the Volunteer/Don Armies, like most White Russians and Cossacks that had been in Ukraine at the time.

[Mark Plant]

Flags are easiest done in the standard diamond pattern, with the unit's name or cipher inside. There would be little reason to fly a "national" flag.

Assuming you want to avoid the pale blue-yellow of independent Ukraine, perhaps you could give the men a trident arm badge. Some Ukrainian units had those in red.

How about white tufts on their fur hats? That would be a Skoropadskii-era design feature, and quite Ukrainian.