A POSTAGE STAMP AS AN ELEMENT OF THE HYBRID WAR OF RUSSIA AGAINST UKRAINE IN THE PERIOD 2014–2024

Abstract

This article examines the issue of postage stamps as an element of the Russian Federation’s hybrid war against Ukraine. The production period of such phila- telic products covered ten years – from 2024 to 2024. Immediately after the act of Russian aggression against Ukraine (February 20, 2014), the aggressor and occupying state began issuing postage stamps in the «Regions of Rus- sia» series from the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Every year, the Russian Federation issues philatelic products that directly or indirectly certify the «belonging» of Ukrainian territories and objects of cultural heritage to the Russian Federation. After the full-scale invasion (February 24, 2022), parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions became temporarily occupied territories. Accordingly, the state body of the Russian Federation – Joint Stock Company «Marka,» which has the authority to print postage stamps, issued postal products in September 2023, which depicts the Zaporizhzhia region as part of the Russian Federation. This publication describes the images on postage stamps, the denomination, and circulation. The issue of philatelic products by the Russian Federation aims to influence public opinion within and beyond its borders.

According to the Universal Postal Convention, a postage stamp embodies state sovereignty. Therefore, Ukraine, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Postal Operator «Ukrposhta,» appeals to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) – a UN structure – not to recognize such postal products of the Russian Federation. In response to Ukraine’s request, the UPU sends out circulars to member countries notifying them of the non-recognition of the relevant philatelic products of the Russian Federation and their non-entry into the international register.