Ukraine postage stamps year 2023 Art Street Judo MSS MNH
In 2023, Ukraine issued a postage stamp featuring a mural by the British street artist Banksy, known as the “Art Street Judo” motif. The stamp depicts a young boy skillfully flipping an older man dressed in a judo uniform, symbolizing Ukraine’s resilience and victory against a larger opponent. The older man is interpreted as Russian President Vladimir Putin, a known judo black belt, while the boy represents Ukraine resisting invasion. The mural was originally painted on a bombed-out wall in Borodyanka, a town heavily damaged during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
This stamp, released by Ukrposhta to mark one year since the full-scale Russian invasion, includes the phrase “FCK PTN!” in Cyrillic lettering, a defiant message against Putin. The design is widely seen as a metaphor for Ukraine’s determination to overcome the aggression, echoing the biblical David and Goliath story. The release was highly popular in Ukraine, where residents lined up at post offices to purchase the new issue, which came in miniature sheet (MSS) form alongside other philatelic products supporting war-affected institutions.
The issue underscored both artistic expression and national spirit during wartime, with Ukrposhta stating that the stamp “reflects the feelings of all Ukrainians—the desire to defeat the enemy”.