Personalized Stamp Issue: 128 Transcarpathian Brigade

We continue the “Personalized Stamp” project with an issue dedicated to the renowned 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade «Zakarpattya» of Ukrainian Armed Forces — also called the Transcarpathian Legion for its multiethnic composition.

The 128th SMAB is experienced, combat-ready, and no doubt legendary. You may have heard the story of our troops capturing a Russian tank and thought it was a myth. It isn’t. It really happened in February 2015, when a Russian T-72 could not be destroyed, so soldiers of the 128th Brigade did the only thing left — they seized it.

The brigade’s shoulder patch features the mountain infantry insignia: a stylized edelweiss and two bartkas (traditional Hutsul axes). The ten petals of the flower symbolize the ten ethnic groups living in Zakarpattia, while the dots in its center represent the virtues of a mountain assault soldier: loyalty, honor, integrity, courage, duty, and selflessness.

The brigade’s motto is “Lem my!”—meaning “Only us.” Their history proves it. The unit has always been ready: it took part in peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, and the Balkans. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when floods struck Ukrainian Transcarpathia, the brigade conducted rescue operations and restored roads. In 2000, by presidential decree, it was awarded the honorary title “Zakarpattia” (Transcarpathia).

In the spring of 2014, 128 SMAB was already defending Ukraine in the east: they held the Luhansk Airport for 146 days and broke out of encirclement, fought for Debaltseve, and quickly mastered artillery warfare. Since 2014, the brigade has never laid down its arms and has remained ready to repel Russian forces.

On July 12, 2021, in Mariupol, the brigade unfurled a 128-meter Ukrainian flag, setting a national record. In the first hours of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the 128th Brigade met the enemy on the Zaporizhzhia front, and in May, the President awarded it the distinction “For Courage and Bravery” for the heroic defense of Zaporizhzhia. Kherson region, Bakhmut, and again Zaporizhzhia — the “Transcarpathian Legion” continues to defend our steppe from Russian forces today.

We thank the soldiers of the 128th Brigade for their service!

Special cancellation “128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade” — May 06, 2026, in the city of Kyiv at post office 01001.

Holders of philatelic subscriptions “Exclusive+” will receive a link to pay for the limited edition postal set “128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade” under the “Personalized Stamp” project. It includes:

a numbered stamp sheet (9 stamps);
a numbered illustrated envelope (C6 format) with a special cancellation.

The number of sets is 900. The price of the set is UAH 800.00.

If not all sets are purchased within the specified period, the remaining quantity will be released for general sale in the Ukraposhta Market.

Available from May 06, 2026, at Ukrposhta Market, at the Personalized Stamp section, as well as in Kyiv philatelic shops at 22 Khreshchatyk Street and 16/4 A. Sheptytskoho Street:

- a sheet of 28 stamps “128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade” under the “Personalized stamp” project (unnumbered, unlimited print run) - 900.00 UAH;

- a DL-size art envelope “128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade” under the “Personalized stamp” project (unnumbered, unlimited print run) - 36.00 UAH;

- artistic stamped envelope “And on the renewed land there will be no enemy…” with a special postmark “128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade” (online only) - 60.00 UAH.

The artists: Maksym Kalynchuk.

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Personalized Stamp Issue: 128 Transcarpathian Brigade

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