Description

‘FCK PTN!’
Official Ukrainian Stamp and Postage Set
by Banksy

 

On February 24, 2022, at about four in the morning Kyiv time, the president of the Russian Federation announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine, after which Russian troops launched missile strikes throughout Ukraine and launched a full-scale military offensive.

The postage stamp, issued on the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, presents one of the seven graffiti pieces by the British artist Banksy, created by him in Ukraine in 2022.

In November 2022, amid the charred remnants of buildings and communities shattered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the elusive street artist Banksy reappeared with a series of powerful, site-specific murals. These works—seven in total—were not only acts of artistic intervention but potent symbols of solidarity and resilience. Stencilled in bombed towns like Borodyanka, Irpin, Hostomel, and Kyiv, Banksy’s Ukrainian murals draw on his classic vocabulary of irony, innocence, and provocation, while adapting poignantly to the urgency of war.

 

Banksy’s murals in Ukraine serve as poignant commentaries on the human cost of war, the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the juxtaposition of innocence against the backdrop of conflict.

Through his art, Banksy brings global attention to the struggles faced by civilians and underscores the universal desire for peace and normalcy in times of turmoil.

The graffiti with a judoka who has been sent to the knockout stage was painted by the artist on the wall of a destroyed house in the village of Borodyanka (Kyiv region).

 

This mural depicts a young boy flipping an older man in a judo match.

The older man resembles Russian President Vladimir Putin, a known judo enthusiast.

This piece represents the underdog triumphing over a more powerful adversary, reflecting Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression.

The image was later featured on this Ukrainian postage stamp set to commemorate the first anniversary of the invasion.

 

Issue date — February 2023

The number of stamps in the sheet — 6

 

The set includes:

Stamp Set Block: “ПТН ПНХ! (FCK PTN!)”

Envelope: “ПТН ПНХ! (FCK PTN!)”

Post Card: “ПТН ПНХ! (FCK PTN!)”