Ukrainian stamps inject humor, patriotism and swearing into their writing

Rude gestures are rare on postage stamps, but Ukraine’s most famous stamp features one. It shows a soldier giving the middle finger to a Russian warship in reference to the standoff at Snake Island on the first day of the full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.

The Russians demanded surrender but the Ukrainians refused, using unprintable language.

The warship in question, the cruiser Moskva, was sunk by Ukrainian forces two days after the stamp was issued and it was sold out within a week of being sold.

That’s what the stamp means that whatever is left over is fine given to government delegations Representing Ukraine on the world stage.

Ihor Smilyansky, head of Ukraine’s Ukrposhta postal company, admitted this was a risky step.

“It was my decision. I said – I don’t care what other people think. I just believe it’s the right thing to do,” he told the BBC. “I know it disrupts all stamp collecting [study of stamps] rules and all the rules. But we’re about to break the rules.”

Ukrposhta often tests its designs in public, and the results of such online polls also tend to be very political.

That’s how Ukraine’s best-selling stamp was born, featuring a Ukrainian tractor pulling a captured Russian tank and featuring the popular wartime greeting: “Good evening, we come from Ukraine.”

Ukrposhta has sold about 8 million such stamps.

The stamps feature Ukraine famous mine-detection dog Patron earned Ukrposhta about $500,000 (£400,000): 80% of the money was spent on demining equipment and the rest on animal shelters.

Another stamp of mural left by famous graffiti artist Banksy on a shell-damaged building outside Kiev, helped fund 10 bomb shelters. The stamp features another popular Ukrainian slogan that was not printed – this time against Vladimir Putin.

Ihor Smilyansky said that a bit of humor was added to Ukrposhta stamps to maintain the morale of Ukrainians in the war with Russia.

“Humor has become the fighting force of Ukrainians in this war,” he told the BBC. “Even in the most difficult circumstances, you have to accept it with a sense of humor. And sometimes that’s what our stamps are about.”

Oscar Young from UK-based stamp dealers and auction house Stanley Gibbons said Ukraine’s approach to stamps by focusing them on the war was highly unusual.

He told the BBC: “Generally stamps are artistic and polite, but to do it your way and be quite rude, putting expletives and gestures on stamps – that’s quite unique to the issues. this particular topic.

He said the candid image used on the warship stamp is what made the stamp so famous and caused a stir when it was released.

The special properties of Ukrainian stamps have made them popular with collectors worldwide.

Laura Bullivant from Gloucester, England, believes other stamps look bland in comparison.

“I think they are like the thought process of Ukrainians, they are very strong and do not bow to anything that is coming to their country,” she said.

“At a time of great anxiety and terror, they are delivering something that no other country can.”