1991, August 24 - an extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR adopted the Act of Proclamation of Independence and two resolutions: On the Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine (with the appointment of a republican referendum on the confirmation of the Act of Independence for December 1) and On Military Formations in Ukraine (regarding the formation of the Ministry of Defense and the subordination of all military formations deployed on the territory of the republic to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine).

«321 deputies voted »for« the declaration of independence on the first attempt (for the Resolution on the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine) – a constitutional majority. However, some pulled out their cards so as not to participate in the vote. Noticing this, Leonid Kravchuk, who chaired the meeting, announced that those who did not »have time« to vote should write written statements to the secretariat. As a result, the »Act of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine”, which was voted on immediately afterwards, was supported by 346 deputies.

In the wake of the excitement that reigned in the session hall and outside the walls of the parliament (the session was broadcast on the radio), Vyacheslav Chornovil proposed to bring into the parliament hall the blue-and-yellow flag with which Ukrainians stood on the barricades near the Russian White House, and also to raise the national flag over the dome of the parliament. Within a few minutes, the flag appeared in the hall. However, its ceremonial raising over the parliament took place a few days later - on September 4, 1991.

The historic introduction of the flag into the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada.

On the same day, August 24, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution "On the De-Partization of State Bodies, Institutions, and Organizations," which terminated the activities of political party organizations in all state authorities and administration, law enforcement agencies, radio and television institutions, and other state institutions, bodies, and organizations.

The last thing that day was for the deputies to adopt an appeal to the parliament and the president of the RSFSR, in which they «sincerely thanked» them for their «heroic actions in protecting freedom and democracy» during the coup and expressed confidence that «the centuries-old traditions of mutual support between the progressive forces of Ukraine and Russia will continue to grow stronger.».

Based on materials from the Institute of National Remembrance