Tragedies of Ukrainians in Ukrainian philately

1918 or 1992 in the independent state can be considered as a year of formation of Ukrainian philately. During the 30-year period, many new stamps were issued on various subjects. Each new year significantly improves the quality indicators of the creation and production of stamps.

It would seem that with technical progress correspondence and stamps will disappear. But the postal world still exists today. Ukrainian envelopes with letters and stamps travel across countries, remaining in the memory of the addressees.

Tragedies through the lens of history

The history of each country is not only happy events and news, it is a thorny path of existence. Ukraine, which is still experiencing a tragedy today, is no exception. Postage stamps, as carriers of historical information, allow us to understand the motives and circumstances of their production. Visualization of the image of the event provides an opportunity to realize and perceive the history that has befallen the country.

Ukrainian revolution 1917-2021

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the event, a commemorative series of stamps was released. The initiator of the graduation The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. This period represents the national liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people and the first intentions to create their own army. After all, the young state had to face threats from its neighbors.

The issue is called "Armed Formations of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1921", 130,000 copies were published:

• 2019 Marksman of the Ukrainian Galician Army (UGA);

• 2019 Cossack of the cavalry regiment of the Black Zaporozhets;

• 2020 Cossack of the Separate detachment of Sich Riflemen;

• 2020 Cossack of the 1st Ukrainian (Bluecoats) Division;

• 2020 Cossack of the 1st Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky Independent Presidential Regiment;

• 2021 Machine gunner of the 3rd General Rifle Division of the UNR Army;

• 2021 Battleship commander of the 1st Armored Division of the Ukrainian army.

This event was also illustrated by the artist Serhii Horobets on the stamp "Ukrainian Revolution 1917-1921, 100 years" issued by Ukrposhta in 2017 in a circulation of 140,000 copies.

Ukrainian revolution 1917 Photo resource Historical Pravda

Holodomor 1932-1933

The act of genocide of the Ukrainian people, which was organized by the leadership of the Ukrainian SSR government by artificially creating a famine. One of the dramas due to which almost 7 million Ukrainians died. These were deliberate and purposeful measures against the nation.

The Soviet authorities deliberately confiscated the crops of grain and other products of the peasants. And this was done against the background of a large amount of crop stocks, which were exported abroad.

When the crime was committed, no one from the Soviet authorities investigated his motives. Also, no one from the leadership of the government was punished. Instead, it was forbidden to mention this event for a long time.

During the period of independent Ukraine, this event was elucidated on stamps three times:

• 1993 "Sixtieth anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine" - 1 million copies;

• 2003 "Holodomor 1932-1933" - 100,000 copies;

• 2008 "75th anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine 1932-1933" - 600,000 copies.

Much later, the Soviet authorities tried to deny the Holodomor and named the causes of the famine as crop failure, drought, and diseases of the peasants. A separate point of view was the arguments of the need to export crops to pay off debts and carry out industrialization.

World War 2

It is difficult to call a day a celebration when so many people died for the sake of resolving the conflict. The war touched Ukraine on September 1, 1939, when enemy aircraft began dropping bombs on the homes of peaceful Ukrainians.

Almost 50% of the entire army of the South-Western Front was Ukrainian. During the war, more than 6 million people were mobilized and took part in hostilities. Half of them died, and half of those who survived were disabled.

May 8 is the Remembrance Day and Reconciliation, on the occasion of which in 2020 Ukrposhta issued a special stamp "We remember. 1/9/1939–2/9/1945" in the amount of 130,000 copies.

Before that, stamps were issued with the slogan Victory or as a commemorative date:

• 1993 "50 years of the liberation of Kyiv" 1 million copies;

• 1994 "50 years of Liberation" 1 million 108 thousand copies;

• 1995 "50 years of the Victory of St. George tape" 1 million copies;

• 2005 "60 years of victory" 280,000 copies;

• 2005 "60 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War" 60,000 copies;

• 2010 "65 years of the victory of the Great Patriotic War" 157 thousand copies;

• 2013 "70 years of the liberation of Kyiv from the fascists" 163,008 copies;

• 2014 "Liberation from the Nazis" 182,000 copies;

• 2015 "Eternal memory of heroes" 130,000 copies.

Within the events of the war, both in history and in philately, there is the tragedy of Babi Yar. The place where 100,000 civilians and prisoners of war were shot by the Nazis in 1941-1943. Only two such stamps were issued in commemoration during the period of independent Ukraine: in 2011 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary and in 2016 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary.

Chernobyl

The man-made disaster that occurred on April 26, 1986 at the Chornobyl NPP. An event in which humanity first encountered an accident at a nuclear power plant and experienced the consequences of radioactive exposure. This led not only to environmental pollution, but also to human casualties and tragedies.

Ukrainian philately could not help but commemorate this grave event and venerated the memory of the victims by issuing a series of stamps:

• 1996 "10 years of the Chernobyl disaster";

• 2016 "Chernobyl - a tragedy for humanity";

• 2021 "Chernobyl. Revival".

The UN Assembly declared April 26 the International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Radiation Accidents and Disasters.

Chernobyl accident 1986 photo from open sources

Modern war of the 21st century

The excursion into some tragedies of Ukrainian history does not end. After all, today an independent state in the center of Europe in the modern civilized world has suffered a violation of the integrity of borders and land administrative units. The aggressor country launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine. Through the lens of time, Ukrainians are once again fighting for their independence. Modern warriors sacrifice their lives for the sake of the future.

At the same time, philately is not just an observer of the present. Stamps issued during martial law are intended not only to publicize and highlight the event, but also to support the army. Therefore, from the beginning of 2022, the following stamps were issued:

• April "Russian warship, go...!";

• May "Russian warship... DONE!";

• June "Ukrainian "Dream";

• July "Good evening, we are from Ukraine";

• August "Free, Unbreakable, Invincible";

• September "Patron Dog";

• October "Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine!".

Ukrposhta actually step aside from the thematic plan and works for victory. Already today, you should think about the stamp that will be issued before the day of the Ukrainian victory.