NEW UKRAINE STAMP REFLECTS CIVILIAN RESISTANCE

Ukraine are set to issue a second postage stamp showing defiance against the Russian invasion of the country, following another stamp design competition.

The second competition run by Ukrposhta, invited Ukrainians to design a stamp with the title ‘Good evening, we are from Ukraine!’ Entries included an image a soldier and a local in traditional dress side by side, and a drawing of Russian leader Vladimir Putin looking at a map with a Ukrainian soldier placing his hand on his shoulder. However, the winning design shows a Ukrainian farmer’s tractor towing away a Russian tank. Since the war began, tractors have become another symbol of the civilian resistance to the Russians.

Before the vote, the Ukraine Post facebook page explained the rules: ‘In total, we received more than 1,500 works and selected five that best meet the philatelic requirements and illustrate the theme of the brand. One of the five sketches to get the most likes across all platforms, we’ll recreate in a new postage stamp in July!’

The stamp is set to be issued in July and follows the release earlier this year of a provocative stamp showing a soldier making a defiant gesture toward a Russian warship. The stamp proved hugely popular with both Ukrainian locals, who queued to purchase the stamp, and collectors around the world, with many examples now selling online for inflated prices.

Meanwhile, Spain has become the latest country to issue a stamp in support of Ukraine. The ‘Spain with Ukraine’ stamp shows the Ukraine flag with a heart in the middle. A total of 640,000 copies of the stamp are said to have been issued, with the set reported to be sold out on the Correos website.