Some have noted that the flag's design resembles the Confederate States of America's navy jack and battle flag, known as the "Dixie flag".[22][23][24] Pavliv explains that he had simply stumbled upon the flag online somewhere, and that the leader of the New Russia Party, Pavel Gubarev, later picked it up.[25] However, Gubarev has stated that the inspiration for the flag came from banners used by Cossacks in the 18th century.[25] According to Alexey Eremenko of the Moscow Times, no Cossacks ever used a flag resembling the one chosen.[25]