Ukraine's postal service to release stamp highlighting homegrown defense industry

Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s national postal operator, has announced the release of a commemorative stamp titled “Weapons of Victory” on 13 April. The stamp will feature a range of Ukrainian-made military equipment, including unmanned aerial systems “Shark” and “Liutyi,” the large FPV drone “Eskadron,” the self-propelled howitzer “Bohdana,” the armored vehicle “Kozak,” and the maritime drone MAGURA V5, Ukrposhta CEO Ihor Smilianskyi reported.

“Our partners are delaying aid. And sometimes – they even advise us not to attack something. Therefore, weapons with the label “Made in Ukraine” are the independent force that leads the heroic fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, capable of making David defeat the big and mentally ill Goliath in the battle ground, air, or sea,” Smilianskyi wrote on Telegram.

The stamp release coincides with two important events: the second anniversary of the sinking of the Russian cruiser Moskva and the Day of the Defense Industry Worker of Ukraine. The equipment featured on the stamp is produced by both state-owned Ukroboronprom and private manufacturers, as the defense of the country is a collective effort, the CEO noted.

Weapons of Victory stamp by Ukrposhta. Photo: Telegram/Igor Smelyansky

It is, however, unclear if the postal operator issues one stamp of a series of stamps on one sheet. Ihor Smilianskyi accompanied his announcement with three different images, with two showing all the mentioned pieces of equipment but in different design, and one featuring only the Magura V5 sea drone.

Postal stamp featuring Magura V5 maritime drone. Photo: Telegram/Igor Smelyansky

Ukrposhta, in collaboration with the Ministry of Strategic Industries, has decided to honor the Ukrainian defense industry and the fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with this stamp release. The company promises that the stamp release will be symbolic, but has not provided details on the special cancellation or other activities planned for the day. The stamps will also be available for purchase at post offices across the country from April 13 to 15.

In 2013, Ukraine’s national postal operator Ukrposhta was recognized for its creative stamps commemorating Ukraine’s victories and resilience during Russia’s war, winning first place for “Philatelic Campaign of the Year” at the World Post & Parcel Awards 2023 in Tallinn, Estonia, and being acknowledged in two other categories. Ukrposhta earned fame throughout the first year of Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine for coming up with creative stamps that commemorate Ukraine’s victories and resilience, such as the now-iconic collectible “Russian warship, go f*ck yourself.”

In mid-April 2022, shortly before the sinking of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s flagship Moskva, Ukrposhta released the stamp “Russian warship, go f*ck yourself,” featuring the cruiser Moskva. The phrase originated from the response by the Ukrainian border guard stationed on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, Roman Hrybov, to the Moskva’s demand to surrender on 24 February 2022, on the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, becoming a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.

In late January 2024, Ukrposhta was probably among the targets of a Russian cyberattack that made at least three major Ukrainian e-services temporarily inaccessible, including its own online and offline services, as well as those of Naftogaz and the Shliakh information system.

Ukraine’s postal service to release stamp highlighting homegrown defense industry