The news told by the postage stamps (May 11

May 12 — Ivan Marchuk turns 90

Many happy returns to the People’s Artist of Ukraine!

Ivan Marchuk created his own unique painting technique known as “pliontanism” — layers of delicate interwoven lines forming compositions of color and light. The artist’s body of work includes around 5,000 pieces.

Sheet "Ivan Marchuk. Tell me the Truth 1994"→

May 14 — Independence Day of the State of Israel

Am Yisrael Chai! עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי‎

On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel.

Read our earlier post to learn how the revival of Hebrew, the founding of the state, and Israel’s postal service are connected.

Sheet «Joint issue Ukraine-Israel. Shmuel Agnon. 1888-1970» →

May 15 — 205 prisoners of war returned to Ukraine

We wish them a swift recovery and thank them for their service.

Most of the servicemen had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. They defended Ukraine on multiple fronts, including Mariupol and Azovstal.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that this was the first stage of a large-scale 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange agreed upon during the short-term ceasefire of May 8–11 initiated by the United States.

May 16 — LELÉKA held the longest note in Eurovision history

LELÉKA performed the song “Ridnym” accompanied by bandura player Yaroslav Dzhus.

Congratulations to the performer, and thank you for representing Ukraine with dignity at the song contest!

We’d also like to revisit her remarkable performance and our themed stamps featuring storks and Ukraine’s Eurovision winners.

Sheet «Kalush Orchestra» →

Sheet "Dzhamala" →

Sheet «EUROPA. White stork Ciconia ciconia» →

May 17 — Moscow burns and smokes

We thank the Defense Forces of Ukraine for this successful large-scale attack on the capital of the Swamp Reich. It's high time for russians to try their own medicine.

Let’s sing! “Moscow is Burning in My Dreams” by Irena Karpa, Grigory Semenchuk, LyubaY akimchuk and Yuriy Gurzhy

Block «Weapons of Victory. Made in UA» →

May 18 — Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide of the Crimean Tatar People

Eighty-two years ago, in the early morning of May 18, 1944, NKVD troops stormed the homes of Crimean Tatars. People were given anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour to gather their belongings. Over the course of several days, more than 180,000 people were deported from Crimea to Siberia and Central Asia in freight cars without food or water.

Due to the inhumane transportation conditions and the hardships of the first years of exile, between 20% and 46% of the Crimean Tatar population perished, according to various estimates.

Today, Ukraine marks the Day of Struggle for the Rights of the Crimean Tatar People and honors the memory of the victims of the Crimean Tatar genocide.

Stamp booklet «Crimean Tatar embroidery - code of the nation. Autonomous Republic of Crimea» →