{"id":11,"date":"2023-02-07T16:19:52","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T16:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandpops-bookshelf.co.uk\/Cover-Stories\/?p=11"},"modified":"2023-02-26T17:38:38","modified_gmt":"2023-02-26T17:38:38","slug":"postcard-from-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandpops-bookshelf.co.uk\/Cover-Stories\/postcard-from-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Postcard from Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From Dmytro in Kyiv 3rd February 2023<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
\u0421\u043b\u0430\u0432\u0430 \u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0456! … Glory to Ukraine!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A defiant image from a proud nation fighting for their survival. I have been moved by how Ukraine has refused to accept the world’s expectations that the Russian invasion would overwhelm them. Sometimes the concept of a nation “mobilising” and news of the statistics of senseless destruction is too hard to take in. The numbers killed or wounded, the thousands of homes destroyed, the millions displaced. In some measure a situation can only be comprehended through an individual’s story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

I just hear explosions now. It’s already two hours. In contact with friends to know that everyone is alive. Your letter is near me. I didn’t have time to send it. But I’m planning tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\nNew Years Eve, 2022<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Then a message at the beginning of February:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Yesterday I had my birthday. I didn’t celebrate. But two friends came to visit me. It was nice.<\/em> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, I collected money to provide necessary things for my friend at the front.<\/em> I was able to raise $3,000 in three days and buy something important. In Ukraine at the moment, this is a lot of money.<\/em><\/p>\n4th February 2023<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I am not sure whether I, when in my twenties, would have had the resilience, the gumption, to put aside my ambitions and lifestyle and just get on with whatever needed to be done? I guess when it’s fight or flight, and your friends, family and culture face an existential threat, the choice is stark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tractor and snake<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The picture on the postcard – the plucky tractor hauling away a broken and defeated Russian tank – is typical of images that have been made. It became well-known through the second competition to design a new Ukrainian stamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ukraine
PW #2055, 28 July 2022 by Anastasia Bondarets, Winner of Ukraine’s 2nd postage stamp design competition. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first competition had resulted in an internationally celebrated stamp design which memorialised the Snake Island incident<\/a>, when a small garrison of defenders defied the order to surrender by a Russian warship and gave their response “Russian warship, go f**k yourself!”<\/em> It is unclear whether any of them survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ukraine<\/a>
PW #2047, 12 Apr 2022 By Boris Grokh – stamp designer; Public Domain (wikimedia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Under the Cover<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The stamps on the envelope are the “U” denomination of 28 June 2022, celebrating Children’s Art, and a vertical pair of “F” denomination of stamps with the St George & Dragon arms of the Kyiv Oblast, one of the 27 main administrative regions of Ukraine. The stamps are “pen cancelled” with blue biro instead of bearing a postmark. These small gestures probably tell a story of disruption and destruction of the nation’s infrastructure. But the mail gets through – people are doing their job, determined to live on. The envelope is a first day cover (“Premier Jour”<\/em>) for the issue of a stamp showing the arms of the Kharkiv Oblast in the North-East, bordering Russia. In 2022 much of the Kharkiv Oblast was invaded and occupied by the Russian army, but most was retaken by the military counter-offensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cover
Cover – sent 31 Dec 2022; arrived 3 Feb 2023 (34 days)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dmytro was a TV presenter and music producer before the war. Now, like so many young men, he is having to support the defence efforts. But some of his creative colleagues and friends have continued to make art, record music and videos to keep their cultural life alive and to raise moral at home and awareness abroad. He has introduced me to some powerful music videos by contemporary Ukrainian artists. (See links below). His pride in his city and country are evident:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

I want to say THANK YOU to all the countries that are helping us. Your kindness will surely return to you!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mood drone video about Kyiv – https:\/\/youtu.be\/vMnkBovyTPc<\/a> (some places are destroyed by russian bombs already). But we will fix it!<\/em><\/p>\nfrom Dmytro’s PostCrossing<\/span> profile<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Links<\/h5>\n\n\n\n