Kherson is Ukraine! Postage stamp

After 263 days, the first Ukrainian city occupied by the Russian army in February, Kherson, has been liberated. The confidence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces leaves no doubt that this will not be the last settlement from which the invaders will be knocked out.

What is known about the first stamp dedicated to the city

In April this year, Ukrposhta successfully began issuing stamps, each dedicated to a notable event during martial law. The main purpose remains support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. But the stamp also expresses support for people who have suffered from the occupation.

Ukrposhta announced this stamp directly on the day of the liberation of the city on 11.11.2022 before the official announcement from the General Staff. The long-awaited postage stamp "Kherson is Ukraine!" is the first one dedicated to the de-occupied city and its residents. Since March, Kherson has the status of a hero city.

·         Date of putting into circulation: December 2022

·         Circulation - 900 thousand copies

·         Number of stamps in sheet 6 (2x3)

·         Nominal - U (12.00 UAH)

·         Author - Andriy Sagach

The print run comprises 150,000 sheets or 900,000 copies of stamps, of which 50,000 copies were pre-ordered on the first day of the announcement. Together with the sheet of stamps, a "First Day" envelope and an artistic unmarked card envelope are assumed. Along with the announcement, it was announced that the cancellation would take place in December in the directly liberated city.

Watermelon as a symbol of Kherson city

Ukrainians are used to the fact that the tastiest watermelons are brought from Kherson. The annual barge shipments of juicy watermelons down the Dnieper River to the capital are proof of this. The sketch was prepared in advance for liberation day, a testament to the confidence of the Ukrainian army.

Ukrainian military liberates the Kherson region Photo by Kostyantyn Liberov

The first achievements of the Ukrainian military in Kherson opened a watermelon shuttle. Pictures of the Ukrainian military with a ripe watermelon in combat conditions began to appear more and more often. In September, a photo of Konstantin Liberov with a soldier of the 53rd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces went around the world. The Ukrainian soldier poses with a watermelon in front of an MLRS launcher that fires missiles at the enemy.

What is shown on the stamp

This is not the first time that Zaporizhzhya artist Andriy Sagach works with Ukrposhta. Before that, he is known to Ukrainians for his work, which won the competition for sketches for the postage stamp "Peace - the highest value of humanity!" and the envelope "Spring will come again!

The postage stamp "Kherson - is Ukraine!" is vertically oriented. It depicts a large slice in the centre, which lies on a field amongst watermelons. It is shifted to the left edge of the stamp, leaving free space for the inscription on the right. In the upper right corner there is the Ukrainian coat of arms, to the left of it the inscription in Latin "Ukraine" and the year of issue. Along the right edge there is a vertically oriented inscription in big letters "KHERSON IS UKRAINE! In the lower right corner the denomination of the stamp is written in Latin letter "U" of white colour. Above the denomination, there are the author's initials against a sky background.

As for the slice itself, it is presented voluminously and at the full size of the stamp. The top right corner of the slice is bitten off. The seeds in the slice are represented by enemy missiles, which are shown in black. The surface of the slice itself depicts 4 painful scenes that accompanied the occupation of the city. At the top there are two pictures - a residential block of flats on fire and handcuffed hands holding on to the bars. At the bottom there are also two pictures - protests with the slogan "Kherson - is Ukraine!" and a Russian soldier with a machine gun next to him a woman kneeling down.

The stamp sheet "Kherson - is Ukraine!" has 6 stamps 2x3 pcs. The stamps are displayed against a blue sky and a field of watermelons. At the top of the stamped sheet there is an inscription with the name of the stamp on the left side. On the right side there is a map of Ukraine with the city of Kherson. Above the name of the city there is a " hero-city" inscription and the Ukrainian flag.

A series of envelopes, postcards and a special stamp were developed for the stamp.

envelope of the first day Kherson is Ukraine

widely distributed postal envelope Kherson Ukraine