Ihor Smilyansky says that humor is added to Ukrposhta’s stamps to maintain Ukrainian morale during the war with Russia.
“Humor has become a fighting force for Ukrainians in this war,” he tells the BBC. “Even in the most difficult circumstances, you have to take it with a sense of humor. And that’s what our brands say sometimes.”
Oscar Young of British stamp dealer and auctioneer Stanley Gibbons says Ukraine’s war-focused approach to postage stamps is highly unusual.
“Generally the stamps are artistic and decent, but to go out and be quite rude, swear and be very gesticulating on the stamps – that’s quite unique to these special editions,” he tells the BBC.
He says the candid image used on the warship stamp is what made the stamp so famous and caused such a stir when it was issued.
The distinctive character of Ukrainian postage stamps has earned them popularity among collectors around the world.
Laura Bullivant from Gloucester, UK, believes other postage stamps look bland in comparison.
“I think they’re like the Ukrainian thought process, they’re just strong and they just don’t bend to what’s coming into their country,” she says.
“In a time of great worry and terror, they bring something to the game that no other country could.”
