Letter meanings of Ukrposhta stamps

The Cost of Ukrposhta Stamps

Stamps as a Means of Payment

Stamps are not just collectible items or works of art; they are also a means of paying for postal services. They are an essential element for sending letters, postcards, parcels, and other mail items. Despite the increasing impact of digital technologies, traditional mail correspondence remains relevant. Thus, postal stamps continue to be a crucial tool for facilitating communication, especially in international mail exchanges.

In the past, the cost of postage was determined by the face value of the stamp, indicated in monetary terms. However, with the development of infrastructure and changing tariffs, a simpler system became necessary. This is where letter-coded stamps came into play.

Denominations of Postal Stamps

Traditionally, each postal stamp had a specific denomination in monetary terms, such as 50 kopecks, 1 hryvnia, or 5 hryvnias. This allowed users to know exactly how much it would cost to send a particular item. The denomination depended on factors like the weight of the letter, the format of the parcel, and the distance to its destination.

However, a significant problem emerged—postal tariffs are subject to frequent changes. If you owned stamps with outdated denominations, you had to add extra stamps to cover the difference. This was inconvenient and often confusing for customers. Moreover, postal offices frequently experienced shortages of stamps with the required denominations, further complicating the process.

Transition to Letter-Coded Stamps

To address these challenges, many countries, including Ukraine, adopted the use of letter-coded stamps. Ukrposhta introduced this system as a more flexible and convenient solution for both customers and the postal service.

Letter-coded stamps represent a category of postage rather than a specific monetary value. For instance, the letter “A” corresponds to the cost of sending a standard letter weighing up to 50 grams within Ukraine. With this system, there is no need to worry about whether a stamp’s denomination is up to date, as it automatically matches current tariffs.

This system proved particularly effective during periods of high inflation, as it eliminated the need for constant reissuing of stamps with updated denominations and minimized confusion.

Designations of Ukrposhta Letter-Coded Stamps

Currently, Ukrposhta uses several primary letter designations for different categories of mail. Here’s what they mean:

Letter “A”: Standard letter weighing up to 50 grams within Ukraine. This is the most popular category, suitable for most household and business mail.
Letter “B”: Registered letter weighing up to 50 grams within Ukraine, providing additional security and tracking.
Letter “C”: International letter weighing up to 50 grams, often featuring unique designs that appeal to collectors.
Letter “D”: Registered international letter weighing up to 50 grams, ideal for secure international delivery.

In addition to these main categories, Ukrposhta occasionally issues special series of letter-coded stamps, such as thematic or charitable collections, which become prized items for collectors.

JSC "Ukrposhta" Tariff Update: New Values for Letter-Coded Postage Stamps Effective January 1, 2026

The national postal operator "Ukrposhta" has officially revised its current tariff rates for mail correspondence services. Starting in January of this year, new pricing has come into effect, directly impacting the value of letter-coded postage stamps. These adjustments are driven by the need to adapt to modern economic conditions and align service costs with current market indicators.

For the convenience of senders, we have prepared an up-to-date list of the values for letter-coded marks used for both domestic and international mail. All prices include VAT and are valid as of January 1, 2026:

1. Tariffs for Domestic Mail within Ukraine (in UAH):

H — The most affordable denomination, with a value of 0.60 UAH.
U, V, L, T, D — A universal group of stamps for standard letters and postcards, priced at 24 UAH per unit.
F — A denomination corresponding to a value of 48 UAH.
M — A stamp with a nominal value of 72 UAH.
X — The highest Hryvnia denomination in this category, amounting to 96 UAH.

2. Tariffs for International Correspondence (USD Equivalent):
Payment for international services is traditionally tied to a foreign currency equivalent. Please note that at the time of purchase, the final cost is calculated in the national currency based on the current exchange rate of the National Bank of Ukraine:

G, Ж, Z, A, Є, C — The value is set at $1.20 USD.
N, R, W — The price per stamp is $1.80 USD.
P — A stamp for specialized categories of mail, valued at $6.00 USD.

Please take these changes into account when planning your mailings and verify the availability of the required stamps at your local post office in advance.