The designated postal operator of Ukraine, Joint Stock Company "Ukrposhta", has asked the Universal Postal Union to take immediate action and prevent Russia from issuing four postage stamps "Russia. Regions. The Donetsk People's Republic. Zaporozhye Region. The Luhansk People's Republic. The Kherson Region" on June 12, 2023. On April 27, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Swiss Confederation, Iryna Venediktova, presented the note verbale to Director General of the Universal Postal Union, Masahiko Metoki.

In particular, Ukrposhta has asked the UPU not to register Russia’s postage stamps dedicated to the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and all subsequent postage stamps of Russia as an aggressor country in the WADP (World Association for the Development of Philately) numbering system.

In addition, Ukrposhta has asked the International Bureau of the UPU to send a circular letter to the postal administrations of the UPU member states with a request to recognize as invalid the postage stamps of Russia “Russia. Regions. The Donetsk People's Republic. Zaporozhye Region. The Luhansk People's Republic. The Kherson Region” and, accordingly, not to accept and not to process letter post items paid with these postage stamps.

“In view of Russia's continued practice of issuing postage stamps “legitimizing” the military seizure of the territories of a sovereign state, which is a gross violation of international law and the UPU Regulations, Joint Stock Company “Ukrposhta” appeals to the Universal Postal Union to immediately respond to the actions of the Russian Federation, in order to prevent Russia from legitimizing and repeatedly performing illegal postage stamp issues that violate the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine”, the note verbale reads.

As a reminder, in 2014, Russia issued postage stamps related to the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Upon Ukraine’s request, the Universal Postal Union issued circular No. 136/2014 “Ukraine – Statement concerning postage stamp issues”, stating the position of JSC “Ukrposhta” regarding the incompliance of the Russian Federation’s issuance of these postage stamps with the provisions of the UPU Convention and requesting the UPU member states not to recognize these stamps.

In 2022, Ukrposhta appealed to the UPU and its member countries with a request to introduce sanctions against Russia in the field of philately. In May 2022, the Postal Operations Council of the UPU prematurely removed Russia from its position as co-chair of the Customs Working Group.

Such results became possible largely thanks to the consistent assistance from the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland, which coordinates the work of Ukraine with the Universal Postal Union. Also, thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian diplomacy in Switzerland, in May 2022, the Administrative Council of the Universal Postal Union adopted a resolution in support of Ukraine and Ukrposhta by a majority of votes.