The flag of Russia consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width: white at the top, blue in the middle, and red at the bottom. White symbolizes noble ideals, peace, and honesty. Blue represents faithfulness, loyalty, and virtue. Red stands for courage, love, and the sacrifice of those who fought for the country. The current flag was adopted in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but it has historical roots dating back to the 17th century, originally used as the flag of the Tsarist Empire. The colors were influenced by the flag of the Dutch Republic, from which Russia borrowed elements when designing its own flag.