Postage Stamp Series “You Shall Have It, Enemy, As the Witch Declares”

A mystical wind of Ukrainian poetry sweeps through the philatelic world in a series where myth, magic, and resistance intertwine. The “You Shall Have It, Enemy, As the Witch Declares” postage issue becomes a visual spell — born from the fire of anger, sorrow, and the indomitable spirit of a nation that refuses to yield.

Two stamps — two halves of a single incantation.
On the first, a woman’s face radiates calm and power, her hair flowing into the night sky studded with stars and the crescent moon. In her hand blooms a blue flower — as blue as the heavens over Ukraine — a symbol of life that blossoms through ashes. The quiet dignity in her gaze is timeless; she embodies the ancient strength of those who protect their land not only with weapons, but with word and will.

The second stamp transforms myth into defiance — witches soaring across a blazing sky, astride rockets instead of broomsticks. Their dark hair trails behind like smoke from a battlefield, their flight a symbol of vengeance and justice. These figures are the guardians of memory and retribution, embodying the spirit of every Ukrainian woman whose whispered spell carries the weight of war and the promise of victory.

Illustrated by Kateryna Shtanko, one of Ukraine’s most distinguished artists, the series combines folklore with vivid symbolism. Her artistry flows like a dream — every detail alive with emotion and meaning. From the serene line of a profile to the searing flare of a missile’s tail, the composition transforms art into an act of power, poetry into prophecy.

Miniature Sheet

The sheet, measuring 117×159 mm, contains three se-tenant pairs, each joining the U and A denomination stamps. Together, they form a single poetic panorama — night giving way to dawn, calm to fury, invocation to strike. The gradient of color flows from deep indigo to fiery orange, reflecting a transition from word to action, from prayer to flame.

The background resembles a page from an enchanted manuscript — a field where the words of poet Liudmyla Horova merge with the visionary art of modern Ukraine. Each pair feels like a frame from a cinematic spell: a visual curse against darkness, a whisper of vengeance rising to the heavens.

Issue Specifications

• Series: You Shall Have It, Enemy, As the Witch Declares

• Artist: Kateryna Shtanko

• Date of Issue: July 15, 2025

• Catalogue Numbers (Ukrposhta): 2195, 2196

• Sheet Size: 117 × 159 mm

• Stamp Sizes: 40.02 × 40.02 mm; 52.2 × 40.02 mm

• Stamps per Sheet: 6 (3 se-tenant pairs)

• Denomination: (U + A) × 3

• Print Run: 67,500 copies

The “You Shall Have It, Enemy, As the Witch Declares” issue transforms poetry into enchantment, art into defiance. These stamps speak not in rage, but in strength — the quiet, unbreakable strength of Ukrainian women who pray and punish, love and fight, whispering through the night their eternal vow:
“You shall have it, enemy… as the Witch declares.