Ihor Smilyansky says that humor was added to Ukrposhta’s stamps to maintain Ukraine’s morale during the war with Russia.
“Humor has become the fighting force of Ukrainians in this war,” he told the BBC. “Even the most difficult situations must be accepted with a sense of humor. That is sometimes the purpose of our stamps.”
Oscar Young of British stamp dealer and auctioneer Stanley Gibbons says Ukraine’s war-focused approach to stamps is highly unusual.
“Generally stamps are artistic and polite, but swearing on stamps and behaving very rudely is a very unique phenomenon in this particular issue,” he told the BBC.
He says the candid images used on the warship stamps made them famous and caused a stir when they were issued.
The unique characteristics of Ukrainian stamps have made them popular with collectors around the world.
Laura Bullivant of Gloucester, England, believes other stamps look bland in comparison.
“I think they have the same mentality in Ukraine: they are just strong and they will not give in to anything that comes into their country,” she says.
“At a time of enormous concern and terrible times, they are bringing something to the game that no other country can.”
