Ukraine stamps plunge into 2023 with an issue dedicated to the spirit of Ukrainian people – Warriors of Light; Warriors of Goodness. The 2022 program turned into an extraordinary record of the war, which is heading into it’s second year, despite all early expectations. The original plans for  2022 were abandoned shortly after the war started, and Ukrposhta rapidly initiated a new program which has offered a unique look at a country’s efforts to keep spirts up. 

The post office ran competitions to pick designs and encouraged local artists to submit stamps that reflected both the horrors of the war and the periodic flashes of hope. Some of the stamps and covers were … devastating.

fragment of the performance “Kalina” (artist ZINAIDA, 2018, exhibition “4.5.0.”, New York) and a Ukrainian city that suffered destruction as a result of rocket attacks by Russian troops (photo by Sergei Mikhalchuk, 2022).

and others showed an “up yours’ spirit of resistance.

May 13, 2022 – Charity auction for “Russian warship, go to#uy!” / «Русский военный корабль, иди на#уй!»

What is often unmentioned is how Ukrposhta quickly moves into liberated areas, getting postal services back on it’s feet in days, despite damaged infrastructure and continued attacks. We are so focused on the philatelic aspect of stamps, we forget the human efforts to bring us the stamps and mail. At least 15 employees have been killed while carrying out their duties.  Despite 100s of post offices being destroyed and the Ukrposhta website taken down in a major hack in the early weeks of the war,  mail is still being delivered and stamps created.  Without this vital service, people would not be receiving care packages, government cheques and more – “So far, more than 700 million Ukrainian hryvnia ($19m) of financial aid has been distributed to more than 74,000 internally displaced people.” As war drags on, Ukraine’s postal service perseveres | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera.  Perhaps a set of stamps should be dedicated to Ukrainian postal workers. 

 If you’d like to revisit the 2022 program, check it out here and let me know which stamp you think is the best.  If you want to receive notification when  new stamps are released, sign up for my weekly newsletter. It comes out Sunday night (or early Monday, depending on where you live) and includes the weeks updates, new articles and subscriber only content.

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February

Warrior of Light; Warriors of Goodness
series: heroic professions

5 stamps on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, maxi card

• Road Builders
• Signalmen
• Energy Workers
• Water Suppliers
• Gas Workers

Dedicated to specialists who work to restore infrastructure. 

The enemy uses tactics to destroy critical infrastructure, which is particularly vulnerable to civilians in winter. With its insidious actions, Russia hopes to break the will of Ukrainians, plunge the country into “darkness”, weaken Ukraine’s determination to go to victory. But the enemy miscalculated. As well as with the plans to “take Kyiv in three days.” Despite regular massive rocket attacks aimed at CHP, power lines, gas facilities, Ukrainians demonstrate courage, endurance and ingenuity by lighting homes and public facilities with candles, charging stations and =generators. krainians are deeply grateful to the specialists of special services, who, after enemy rocket attacks on 24/7, selflessly restore the roadway and communication and return electricity, heat and gas to the homes of Ukrainians. (Pre-order) Postal set “Warriors of Light. Warriors of Good” (ukrposhta.ua)

Designer: Oleksandr Nikitiuk

Release date: February 15, 2023

PTN PNH!

1 stamp, sheets of 6, graphic covers, postcard

Released on the anniversary of the Russian invasion.

The postal issue, dedicated to the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, presents one of the seven graffiti of the English artist Banksy, created by him in Ukraine in 2022, graffiti with a judoist sent to a knockout, the artist painted on the wall of a destroyed house in the village of Borodyanka (Kyiv region).  Card “PTN PNH!” (ukrposhta.ua)

Artist: Banksy

Release date: February 24, 2023 

Let’s Not Forget! We Will Not Forget Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel!

3 stamps on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, graphic envelope, 3 postcards

Designer: 

Release date: March 31, 2023

April

Kalush Orchestra

1 stamp, FDC, cancel (two locations), sheets of 6, card

Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 

Designer: Svyatoslav Romanchak
Rabbyt Svyt on Behance

Release date: April 4, 2023

June

Children of Victory Draw Ukraine Future 

5 stamps, FDC, cancel, 2 artistic covers, cancel

This stamp was  released for International Children’s Day. The stamp, titled “The Most Cherished Dream“, was the winning entry in the recent children’s art competition. Ukrposhta received 350 entries from Ukrainian children, of which 7 where picked for the final voting. 468,809 votes were cast, with this stamp receiving 218,969. 

Artists:
Stamp No. 2043 “The most cherished dream. Alexandra Fedorchuk, 14 years old.” 
Stamp No. 2044 “Dove of Peace.” Veronika Ivantsova, 9 years”.
Stamp No. 2045 “Road to the future. Alexandra Bushynska, 13 years old.”
Stamp No. 2046 “Everything will be Ukraine! Anastasia Mysko, 12 years old.”
Stamp No. 2047 “Happiness is being at home. Varvara Kolesova, 9 years old.”

Release date: June 1, 2023

City of Heroes – Kherson

1 pre-stamped cover, cancel

Release date: June 17, 2023

Glory to the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine! The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
Charity Issue

1 stamp, sheets of 5, FDC, cancel, postcard, souvenir pack

A portion of funds from this stamp go towards purchasing a naval drone. 

Designer:  Alexander Okhapkin

Release date: June 30, 2023

Glory to the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine

1 stamp on sheets of 5, FDC, cancel, cover
offset

Designer: Alexander Okhapkin

Release date: July 27, 2023

August

Evil Fighters – Ukraine Air Force

1 stamp on sheets of 4, cover, cancel, card

The author of the postal issue of “Fighters of Evil” Maxim Palenko metaphorically depicted in the picture how Ukrainian army destroys the Moscow Kremlin – a symbol of the “Evil Empire”, grinding it on a fighter grater. On the envelope, the knight in a helmet-trident personifies the nobility, strength and honor of the Ukrainian army defending its native land. Ukraine Post office

Designer: Maxim Palenko

Release date: August 4, 2023

Eternal Memory!
Day of Memory of the Defenders of Ukraine  

1 stamp, sheets of 5, FDC, cancel
offset

Charity stamp – additional funds will go to charitable purposes

Designer: Oleg Shupliak

Release date: August 29, 2023

September

Weapons of Victory

5 stamps on souvenir sheet, 1 card, 1 graphic cover, framed sheet
offset

• World with Ukraine
• Peace with Ukraine

Artists: S.Kharuk, O.Kharuk

Release date: September 29, 2023

October

The Cross of Combat Merit of the President of Ukraine

1 stamp, sheets of 6

Cross designed by Nil Khasevych

Designer: Volodymyr Taran

Release date: October , 2023

Iron Men – Railway Workers  
series: heroic professions

2 stamps on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, 2 maxi cards, postcard
offset

• Evacuation train from Kherson 
• Evacuation train from Lviv

Designer:  Viktor Grudakov

Release date: November 1, 2023

E-stamp

Release date: November 2023

December

Gifts of Saint Nicholas

1 stamp, souvenir sheet of 5, FDC, 2 cancels, maxicard
offset, foil embossing

Charity stamp

On the postal issue “Gifts of St. Nicholas” in the interpretation of the famous Ukrainian illustrator Kostya Lavro, it was possible to combine two significant holidays for Ukrainians. Preserving the traditional children’s image of St. Nicholas, a kind grandfather-magician, the artist skillfully recreated and supplemented it with relevant details. Yes, Nicholas does not fly through the sky on a sleigh, but rides on a Cossack horse. He has a camouflage bag filled with military equipment: planes, tanks, missiles, which are desperately needed by the Ukrainian army for our Victory.
We combine special holidays: Ukrposhta presented the postage stamp “Gifts of St. Nicholas”

Designer: Kost Lavro

Release date: December 6, 2023

Holiday Post Marks

Release dates vary: Between December 3, 2023 to January 6, 2024

Ukrainian Christmas Carols in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, 2 cancels, maxi card, booklet
offset

• Assumption Cathedral. 17th century (Kyiv)
• Give a happy summer to our glorious Ukraine
• Assumption Cathedral. XVIII-XX centuries. (Kyiv)

Designer: Mykola Kochubey | Миколай Кочубей

Release date: December 22, 2023