Slobodyanyuk M. Preconditions, Appearance and Evolution of Sleeve Emblems of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

For the first time in the historiography of Ukraine, this work rose questions of ap-pearance and development of emblems worn on the sleeve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine that have not yet been systematically researched in the historical sciences either in Ukraine or somewhere else. Main components based on which emblems worn on the sleeve were developing, what historical traditions served as a foundation for this phenomenon, what factors essentially influenced it were defined using a great number of sources including real objects (emblems worn on the sleeve of the Ground Forces in the period 1992-2012) as well as documents concerning their development and approval. For the first time, a pe-riodization of development of emblems worn on the sleeve in the world during the 19th-20th centuries and in Ukraine in 1992-2012 was proposed. Patriotic and state ideas that served as a basis and found their reflection in the mentioned period were analysed with the use of concrete examples of emblems worn on the sleeve. Complex and scientific character of the research allowed to explain, clarify and in some cases refute a number of unfounded declarations that could be found in the works on the topic. Besides, on the great historical and factorial material and with the use of scien-tific methodology, for the first time in the history of Ukraine the research gave an oppor-tunity to explore not only the process of appearance and development of emblems worn on the sleeve in the military units of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, but as well creation in Ukraine of own school of symbols worn on the sleeve that include not only emblems worn on the sleeve, but vexillology, phaleristics, military heraldry and uniformology. An Introduction justifies relevance of the topic, its chronological boundaries, defines objective and tasks, object and subject of the research. It also clarifies scientific novelty of the obtained results and their practical meaning, proposes information about dissertation's approbation and justifies its structure.