The coat of arms is the official emblem of the Oblast, symbolizing its history, identity, and traditions.
At the center of the Donetsk Oblast coat of arms is the "Mertsalov’s Palm."
Historical background: Mertsalov’s Palm is a unique work forged in 1896 by blacksmith Oleksii Mertsalov of the Novorossiysk Society of Coal, Iron, and Rail Production, created specifically for the All-Russian Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod. The palm was awarded the highest prize at that exhibition. In 1900, the Novorossiysk Society participated in the World Expo in Paris, where its exhibition pavilion—featuring the Mertsalov’s Palm—received the highest honor: the Grand Prix. Today, the Palm is preserved at the Mining Institute in Saint Petersburg.
The main colors of the coat of arms are:
Gold (shield field) – symbolizes wealth, justice, and generosity.
Black (border) – symbolizes the richness of the underground resources.
Blue (the palm) – represents beauty and grandeur.
Green – stands for hope, joy, abundance, and developed agriculture.
The crown emphasizes the oblast-level status of the coat of arms. Oak leaves represent dignity and reliability. The motto, "Possibility proven by deed", highlights Donbas’s deep-rooted labor traditions and its determination in achieving goals.
The coat of arms was designed collectively by the advertising agency Firma Kardynal.
The flag of Donetsk Oblast is a symbol reflecting the region’s history and traditions.
The upper field is blue with a rising gold (yellow) sun, symbolizing eastern Ukraine.
The lower black field represents coal, earth, and the nighttime Sea of Azov with golden (yellow) reflections.
The flag was designed by Nina Shcherbak, a resident of Donetsk.