It was an interesting experience pulling together Ukrainian 2021 stamps. I had the schedule but it didn’t come with dates. So, I flipped between what was available in the online  store, their Facebook page and news releases. That led to fun and games with Google translate.  I struggled with the bizarre translations that popped up and had a couple chuckles along the way. Hopefully, I haven’t made any bone headed translations this time, unlike the recent mistake with an Italian stamp. 

If you go to Новини | Укрпошта (ukrposhta.ua), don’t use the English version of the site. It’s missing large swaths of information. It’s easier to install a translation extension and read the Ukrainian page. You might need to do a few mental gymnastics to get a decent translation, but think of it as a good brain exercise.  

Ukrainian 2021 stamps & some great envelopes

Not only are stamps and First Day Covers included in the list below, I’ve also added some “graphic envelopes” I found while scouring all corners of the site. Ukrainian post issues striking commemorative envelopes that should be included in any collection. One thing I noticed is they often get left off philately sites.  Big shame, because the designers do a good job. 

You’ll find a few “stragglers” from 2020 here as well. Those are issues related to stamps that came out the previous year such as the limited edition unperforated Birds of Prey. As well, all the bits many catalogues and sites ignore like cancels, artistic envelopes (as mentioned above), postcards, Maxi cards, uncut sheets, will be listed as I find them. Though not a prolific issuer of commemorative cancels, the Ukraine does offer some good ones to collect. Of note this year is the Lesia Ukrainka postmarks that incorporate quotes from her. 

Winning stamps & contests

Each year Ukraine post runs a contest for the “Best Postage Stamp” of the year. The public is invited to vote on their favourite stamps in 3 categories,  best stamp, best block and best sheet.  The voting is open to all, from citizens of the Ukraine and collectors world wide. It’s fun and offers designers a little bit of public acknowledgment. This is something I wish Canada would do. I’d love our conservative post office to start looking at the creativity used around the world and take up the challenge. 

The winners were announced March 1, 2021. That’s a special day for Ukrainian philately because it marks the start of modern Ukraine’s stamps. If you’d like to follow this contest, go to their Facebook page. 

The best postal stamp  was ′′Cossacks′′ . An interesting choice that uses AR technology. Instructions on how to use it is printed on the stamp sheet selvedge. 

The best postal block – Lighthouses of Ukraine. Lighthouses are always popular with collectors. 

And favourite sheet, Stained Glass of Old Lviv, artists Alexander and Sergey Haruki. The best image I could round up was on a FDC. 

Europa’s Ancient Postal Routes  

Last year’s Europa theme was Ancient Postal Routes and the Ukraine’s Postman Fyodor Feketa issue won silver. Mark Joseph Jochim over at Philatelic Pursuits has a good writeup on Fyodor Feketa & the stamp  New Issues 2020: Ukraine (EUROPA) – Philatelic Pursuits.

This is a wonderful issue. It captured last year’s theme so well. I don’t know, I tend to lean towards this one more than the winner because I love the unique Ukrainian designs woven into the set. The more I read about Fyodor Feketa, the more I fell in love with this entry. 

‎The International Postage Stamp Competition “The Best Brand in Europe 2020” was dedicated to the topic “Ancient Postal Routes”. On it, Ukraine presented a postage stamp dedicated to the Transcarpathian postman Fyodor Feketi, who is a true legend and local hero, because he traveled almost 50 km to deliver mail to fellow villagers. The image on the mark was performed by artist Irina Medvedovska.‎
Українська поштова марка виборола срібло на міжнародному конкурсі (ukrposhta.ua)

Medvedovska did a terrific job with the subject. The design didn’t just “create a stamp of an ancient route”, it included elements of the human contact in difficult times. This felt like a nod to the current problem of remaining in touch with family and friends in a Covid world. 

This year’s Europa contest is Endangered National Wildlife.  

Special anniversary & misc. notes

An anniversary of note that will be commemorated  will be the 35th anniversary of Chernobyl. Look for a stamp, FDC and special cancel.  

I was able to scrounge up some interesting bits and pieces about 2021 stamps, including a delightful video about Lesia Ukrainka. What I don’t have is decent information on many stamp designers. As I go along, I’m sure I’ll be able to fill in the gaps. I hope you enjoy these stamps. I learned so much about the Ukrainian’s art and history that I feel like I spent quality time here. 

Follow, support, subscribe 

As always, I’ll be updating this page throughout the year. You can follow me on Facebook & Twitter for update details. You can also leave me messages and question on either platform or in the comments below. I enjoy chatting with readers.

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January Ukrainian 2021 stamps

500 years since the construction of the Epiphany Cathedral

Pre stamped graphic envelope, cancel

Release date: Jan. 19, 2021

Red Book of Ukraine – Birds of prey

Limited edition unperforated m/sheet, Souvenir booklet
The regular series was released in 2020

Release date: Jan 20, 2021

New Year’s Eve set

Envelope C5 Christmas artistic envelope, sheet of 8 stamps

Release date: Jan, 2021

Stained Glass Cases of Old Lviv

FDC, cancel
Uses stamp sheet of 6 stamps issued Dec. 30, 2020

Designers: О. Kharuk, S.Kharuk

Release date: Jan. 20, 2021

Ukrainian 2021 stamps for February

Day of resistance to the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol

1 prepaid artistic envelope, cancel

Photographer:  ATR

Release date: Feb. 2, 2021

Amet Khan Sultan (1920-1971)

1 prepaid artistic envelope, cancel

Amet-khan Sultan | Military Wiki | Fandom (wikia.org)

“Amet Khan Sultan (1920-1971) – the national hero of the Crimean Tatar people. Pilot ace, a participant of World War II, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, a member of the Crimean Tatar national movement. On the envelope – an episode of the film “Haytarma” (Ukraine).”
КМД ПАТ “Укрпошта” – Postal mini-market (ukrposhta.ua)

Release date: Feb. 2, 2021

Lesia Ukrainka 150th anniversary
pseudonym of Larysa Kosach-Kvitka – Ukrainka, Lesia (encyclopediaofukraine.com)

1 prepaid artistic envelope, 3 commemorative cancels

POSTMARK PLACE: The city of Novgorod-Volynskyi, Zhytomyr region, Kolodiazhne village, Volyn region, Hadyach, Poltava region and in Kyiv. These are all places Ukrainka lived. 

Postmark inscriptions: “Lesya with us :)” and “No, I am alive, I will live forever”.

This is an interesting envelope from a design point of view. According to the Ukraine post office’s website, they are experimenting with “new approaches to philately”. This could be fun for collectors. I’ll be keeping an eye on their experiments. Click on the envelope to the left to see all the details like quotes and colour shades. 

The stamp was issued in 2020.

‎”Ukrposhta is experimenting with new approaches in philately. And it was the combination of the past and the present that became this envelope. The design uses digital trends in the style of social networks, and not a traditional classic image. We attract artists with a modern vision, and I am grateful to the author of the concept of the envelope and stamps of special repayment, the artist Vladimir Taran, who managed to combine two epochs in this way. We strive to glorify philately as art of our most famous Ukrainian poets, writers, artists, our best sights and tourist sites, and most importantly – was interesting and relevant for young people,” said Ukrposhta CEO Igor Smilyansky.‎
Укрпошта випустить конверт із зображенням Лесі Українки у стилі поп-арт (ukrposhta.ua) 

Designer: Vladimir Taran

If you’d like to learn more about Lesia Ukrainka watch this short video:

25th anniversary of raising the Ukrainian flag at the Antarctic station “Academician Vernadsky”‎

1 prepaid artistic envelope, cancel
Stamp issued Jan 28, 2020. This stamp is an “our own” issue. It was created by the National Antarctic Science Center.

Designer: Dmytro Borovyk

Release date: Feb. 2, 2021

Order of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes

1 stamp, sheet of 10, FDC, cancel, covers without stamps

Designer: Volodymyr Taran

Release date: Feb. 19, 2021

Silence of the windmills

1 prepaid artistic envelope

Artist: Vasyl Kohutych

Release date: Feb. 22, 2021

March Ukrainian 2021 stamps

Her Majesty – Woman – 1

2 stamps, 2 Maxi cards, cancel, 2 FDCs, 2 covers without stamps (released Mar. 4), 2 postcards, sheets of 9

• Energy II” by a modern Ukrainian artist Andrey Chebykin, 1991
• Taras Shevchenko paintings “Odaliska” from National Taras Shevchenko Museum, 1840

Interesting article about this series was published by Empr Media: Ukrposhta has presented the first collection of mail stamps in nude style (empr.media)
 It discusses the planning and ideals behind the “Her Majesty – Woman” , the first nude postage series from the Ukraine post office:

‘“Ukrpochta” in a collaboration with a Ukrainian clothing brand OLIZ represented a series of silk female scarves. The design is developed in Taras Shevchenko’s painting style. “Our scarves are created with love to Ukraine and art. The Ukrpochta and OLIZ Collaboration is an expression of this love and the way to once again stress the greatness of Taras Shevchenko as an artist” – says Khristina Zboroshenko, OLIZ brand founder. She said that 20% of the funds generated from mail stamps and scarves sales will be directed to the National Taras Shevchenko museum development and support.’

Release date: March 5, 2021

Armed Forces of Ukraine – ground forces

• Rocket troops and artillery
• Mechanized Troops
• Presidential Regiment
•  Air Defense Forces
• Mountain Infantry
• Army Aviation
• Tank troops
• General-Russian form

8 stamps, souvenir sheet, 1 FDC, cancel, covers without stamps

Designer: Oleksiy Bondarenko

Release date:  March 14, 2021

Ukrainian 2021 stamps for April

World Aviation and Astronautics Day

4 Commemorative cancels
All 4 cancels are available on special envelope dedicated to 175 years since the foundation of the observatory of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

World Aviation & Astronautics Day, held April 12, have postmarks from 4 locations around the Ukraine:

• Voronovitsa village, Vinnytsia region, 23252 
• ‎Dnipro, 49000 
• ‎Zhytomyr, 10014 
• ‎Kyiv, 01001

The day honours the first manned space flight by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961.

Release date: April 12, 2021

Віра Роїк (1911 — 2010)
Folk artist who specialised in embroidery 

1 prepaid artistic envelope, cancel

Роїк’s artwork hangs in museums around the world. The link below has a good tribute to this master artist. 

“… prominent Ukrainian embroiderer Vera Ryik. Hero of Ukraine, awarded the Order of Princess Olga, Honored Master of Folk Art of Ukraine, Honored Artist of the Crimea, laureate of the State Prize of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Vladimir Korolenko Prize – she embroidered all her life and left thousands of embroidery and her own Crimean embroidery school to descendants.”
Згасла мелодія на полотні. Померла Віра Роїк | УНІАН (unian.ua)

Release date: April 22, 2021

Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)

1 prepaid artistic envelope, cancel

Release date: April 23, 3021

“Look into the Future” – 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster

1 stamp, sheet of 8, cancel, FDC, uncanceled FDC

Designer: Korshunov

Release date: April 26, 2021

Ukrainian 2021 stamps for May

150th anniversary of the birth of ethnographer and folklorist Volodymyr Hnatyuk‎

1 cancel

Volodymyr Hnatiuk – Wikipedia

Release date: May 7, 2021

Trident 

1 prepaid artistic envelope

Designer: V. Taran

Release date: May 7, 2021

Gurzuf – Korovin’s House of Creativity

1 prepaid artistic envelope
illustration shows the village of Gurzuf, Crimea, Ukraine

Artist: G. Kirilenko-Baranikova

Release date: May 13, 2021

Osyp Dyakov (1921-1950)

1 prepaid artistic envelope

Designer: M Kochubey

Release date: May 14, 2021

EUROPA: Endangered National Wildlife – Carpathians

2 stamps, 2 sheets of 6, 2 FDCs, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Kyiv and Transcarpathian Region

Killer wheels | Cry of the Carpathians

Beech virgin forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2017). The Carpathian mountain forests in Central Europe are one of the most important havens for large predators, including the brown bear. 

Beech virgin forests of the Carpathians and oth­er regions of Europe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2017). The Carpathian mountain forests in Central Europe are one of the most important ha­vens for large predators, including the brown bear.

Ukrainian Embroidery – Code of the Nation
3rd in series

4 stamps, 4 sheets of 8, 4 FDCs, 2 cancels, 4 maxi cards
POSTMARK PLACE: Ternopil and Kyiv 

Stamp images from left to right:

• Shirt (fragment) from Dnipropetrovsk region
• Shirt (fragment) from Rivne region
• Shirt (fragment) from Ternopil region
• Shirt (fragment) from Luhansk region

If you enjoy these embroidery stamps, check out Ukraine’s Code of the Nations 2019  releases that included the Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Volyn and  Chernihiv regions and 2018 series that included Vinnytsia, Poltava, Kyiv and Lviv regions. 

Designer: O.Shuklinova

Release date: May 21, 2021

June 

National Academy of Internal Affairs

graphic envelope

Designer: N. Andreychenko

Release date: June 4, 2021

EURO2020

1 stamp, sheet of 9

Release date: June 11, 2021

Sevastopol
Beauty and Greatness of Ukraine series

4 stamps on a souvenir sheetlet, FDC, cancel

• Balaklava Bay
• Sevastopol. Embankment
• Chersonese of Taury
• Monument to sunken ships

Designer: Alexander Kalmykov

Release date: June 14, 2021

Constitution of Ukraine is adopted

1 graphic cover, cancel

 Release date: June 25, 2021

July

National Dishes – Ukrainian Sausage and Crimean Tatar Chebureki

2 stamps, 2 FDC, cancel, 2 sheets of 8

Artist: Yulika Pradokhin

Release date: July 7, 2021

Coats of Arms Cities, Towns & Villages of Ukraine

2 stamps, FDC, cancel

Release date: July 7, 2021

Lesya Ukrainka  1871-1913

1 stamp on a souvenir sheet

Don’t miss the Feb stamps honouring Ukrainka.  

Designer/artist: Polina Doroshenko

Release date: July 9, 2021

Summer Olympic Games

1 stamp on a souvenir sheet of 8

 Designer: Marina Kuts

Release date: July 11, 2021

August 

30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence 

Special cancel
“XIX National Philaetic Exhibition “Ukrfilex Odesa 2021”

Release date: August 5, 2021

Birds of Ukraine  

FDC

postcards

8 stamps on a souvenir sheet, 8 postcards, FDC, cancel

• Oryabok forest Tetrastes bonasia
• White-billed silencer Tetrao urogallus
• Pheasant ordinary Phasianus colchicus
• Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
• Participus white Lagopus lagopus
• Participus gray Perdix perdix
• Teteruk Eurasian Lyrurus tetrix
• Kepler creamy Alectoris chukar

Designer | artist: Natalia Kohal

Release date: August 6, 2021

Independence Monument (2001), Kyiv 

Booklet cover & mini sheet

1 stamps, sheet of 9, mini sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, booklet with stamp, mini sheet and coin 

Designer: T. Nestorova

Release date: August 17, 2021

Joint issue with Israel – Shmuel Josef Agnon 1888 – 1970

1 stamp, sheet of 12, FDC with 2 cancels

Designer: Voldoymyr Taran

Release date: August 17, 2021

Visit to Ukraine of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Special cancel

Release date: August 22, 2021

Balloon mail – 10th flight 

Special cancel for Balloon Festival  

Release date: August 23, 2021

On Independence Day

graphic envelope, cancel

Release date: August 24, 2021

September stamps

140 Years Ivan Mysyadov/Ivan Zotov (1881-1953) – Joint issue with Liechtenstein

2 stamps on a souvenir sheet

Release date: September 1, 2021

400th anniversary of the Battle of Khotyn (1867) – Joint Issue with Poland

1 stamp on a souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel

Designer:  Jarosław Ochendzan
Polish stamp designer Ochendzan created this same design for Poland. 

Release date: September 2, 2021

Science is her – women in science

4 stamps on a souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel

• Kateryna Yushchenko Kateryna L. Yushchenko | History of Computing in Ukraine (uacomputing.com)
• Olga Perevozchilova 
• Antonina Pryhotko
• Claudia Latysheva Claudia Latysheva: Mathematics is the mother of all sciences, and Claudia Latysheva is its decent child | Stem is Fem

Ukrposhta issued postage stamps with female scientists “Science is her” In Ukranian. Use Google translate. 

Release date: September 8, 2021

Astronomical Observatory of Lviv National University – 250 years since its foundation

1 stamp, sheet of 9, FDC, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Kyiv and Lviv

Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine  was named after Ivan Franko. Founded in 1771, it is one of the oldest observatories in the Eastern Europe.

Designer: I. Medvedovsk

* changed in release date by request of Lviv and Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatories
Release date: September 14, 2021

Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatory 200 years anniversary

1 stamp, sheet of 9, FDC, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: : Kyiv and Mykolaiv 

Designer: I  Medvedovska

* changed in release date by request of Lviv and Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatories
Release date: Sept.

Finished? How about a little something about Octopus?

So, you like cephalopods – an octopus stamp