Ukroboronprom series of stamps with military equipment of Ukraine

Ukroboronprom - series of 7 stamps

2016 brand frigate "Hetman Sahaidachny"

2016 brand tank BM "Oplot"

2016 Dozor B armored personnel carrier

2017 brand "AN - 178"

2017 brand armored personnel carrier "BTR4"

2020 brand system -21UM "Berest"

2020 brand armored personnel carrier BTR-4MB1

The present of Ukrainian philately moves forward along with the history of the country. Since the beginning of the military conflict in 2014 until today, as the aggressor country has carried out a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And even now there are most likely stamps for the day of Ukrainian Victory and Peaceful Skies.

Over 8 years, there has been issued not one stamp on the theme of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These are the events of the ATO period, as well as stamps of martial law. All of them are dedicated to people defending and protecting their home. However, without weapons it would be not only difficult, but impossible. Therefore, a separate issue is dedicated to the Ukrainian military equipment, which together with the warriors fulfills all the goals.

Information about the series

In the period before 2014, Ukraine was producing military equipment, the purpose of which was to sell it abroad. Production was carried out at the enterprises of the military industry, and most of the exports were carried out through seaports. During the ATO, sales were not a priority, therefore the equipment was sent to the combat zone.

Ukrposhta's cooperation with Ukroboronprom State Concern was started in 2016. It was then that the decision was agreed to issue 3 variants of art stamps with military equipment. In the following year, 2017, the series had its sequel with the issuance of 2 more stamps.

In the period 2018-2020, there were no stamps issued. The main reason for this could be internal problems within the concern due to inspections regarding corruption allegations. At that time, 480 criminal cases were opened for causing losses in the total amount of UAH 100 million.

Yet, in October 2020, the series was supplemented by 2 more stamps with the latest Ukrainian military weapons. As a result, in general, the series comprises 7 stamps issued during 3 time periods.

·         Circulation - 130 thousand.

·         Size 40x28 mm

·         Number per sheet - 8 (2x4)

·         Authors - Serhiy and Oleksandr Haruk

It should be noted that in 2017 the circulation amounted to 140 thousand copies. The stamp with the image of the Frigate "Hetman Sahaidachny" has a different size from the series of 52x25 mm. The ship appears on the stamp not for the first time, previously it was presented on a sheet of stamps in 1998 at the exhibition of philately "Ukrfilexpo 98" in Sevastopol.

 What is depicted on the stamps

Each stamp has an image of equipment that is manufactured at the production facilities of the Ukroboronprom concern. In addition to the name of the equipment, there is the defence complex logo, coat of arms and the Ukrainian flag, as well as the year of issuance of the stamp.

 «Dozor-B» armoured personnel carrier

Development work of the all-wheel drive combat vehicle has been carried out since 2004 by the Kharkiv Design Bureau. The armored personnel carrier was first officially presented in 2007 at an arms exhibition in Kyiv as a test model.

In fact, Ukrainian manufacturers produced only 10 units of military equipment, which were transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Instead, in 2013, Ukraine sold the production license to Poland, which managed to establish the production of an analogue called "Oncilla". This version was upgraded to NATO standards and is now successfully used by the Ukrainian army.

Tank «BM Oplot»

The modification is based on the T-80 and T-84 types of tanks, the manufacture of BM "Oplot" was started in 2008 and the tank was adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2009 on the Independence Day of Ukraine. Its serial production had to be launched in 2013-2014. But one of the constraining factors is the presence of many russian components in the construction.

There is no information on the actual production amount of BM "Oplot", according to official sources, it is known that the Ukrainian army has one such tank and 10 units of T-84U "Oplot" modification in its service.

The modification was first introduced to the international community in 2011 at an exhibition in the UAE. According to the results of which there was signed the contract for the supply of 49 units to Thailand. The execution of this contract had been carried out during 2012-2018. There are also references to possible orders of BM "Oplot" from the United States and Pakistan within the framework of testing.

Frigate «Hetman Sahaidachny»

The frigate of the border patrol ships project was founded in 1990 and launched in 1992 in Kerch. It joined the Ukrainian Navy in 1993. During its service, it repeatedly participated in anti-terrorist exercises of NATO programs. Dock and current repairs were carried out in Sevastopol, Chornomorsk, Odesa. The last repair was scheduled to be carried out with re-equipment and modernization, in 2021 the vessel arrived in Mykolaiv.

During the time of russian aggression and full-scale invasion in February 2022, the ship was located at the Black Sea Shipyard. In order to prevent its capture by the enemy, the command made a decision to partially sink the ship in March.

Armoured personnel carrier BTR-4 «Bucephalus»

 The Kharkiv design bureau developed a deep upgrade of existing armoured personnel carriers back in 2002, and the first prototype was unveiled in 2006. The first production unit was produced in February 2009 and presented at the Armaments Exhibition. Until 2014, russian details were used in the construction and it was possible to fully replace them in 2015.

As for the export of equipment, one of the largest contracts is the supply to Iraq. In the period 2011-2013, 100 units of equipment were shipped. The vehicles were used in combat operations in the East of Ukraine in 2014-2015.

 Aircraft «An-178»

Transport aircraft with turbojet engines, developed by Design Bureau "Antonov" on the basis of the passenger aircraft An-158. The development started in 2010, and the aircraft made its first flight in 2015. The cargo capacity is 18 tons in the equivalent of two sea containers. Flight altitude is 12 km and range is 5.5 thousand km.

In 2021, there were 4 units of aircraft in production. It is known about the conclusion of a contract for the supply of 10 planes for Azerbaijan, 1 plane for Peru and 13 planes for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and 3 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. An interesting point is the introduction of an import substitution system, which made it possible to build aircraft by 78% from Ukrainian components and without components of russian origin. 

Armoured personnel carrier «BTR-4MV1»

BTR-4 is the basis for the creation, new modification was introduced in October 2017. It differs in equipment and protection. The peculiarity of the modification is the all-round vision system and improved handling through controlled operation in combat conditions. The vehicle was presented to the international community at the exhibition in 2021. Testing of this modification is carried out directly in combat conditions in 2022.

BM-21UM «Berest»

MLRS with a caliber of 122 mm with a digital guidance system based on the coordinates of drones. The modification is intended to completely replace BM-21 "Grad" and "Verba". Developed on the KrAZ chassis, with an upgraded launcher for 50 missiles. It was first presented at the exhibition in 2018.

For each stamp, on the day of its issue, a postal envelope was put into circulation and a first-day stamp was designed.

In December 2022, Ukrposhta issued another sheet of military equipment stamps called "Weapons of Victory". The sheet depicts 6 units of weapons and equipment used by the Ukrainian army in the fight against russian troops.

envelope of the first day of Ukroboronprom