“We Will Not Forget! We Will Not Forgive!” Ukrainian Stamp Block – Bucha, Irpin & Hostomel, 2023

A powerful piece of modern Ukrainian history, the “We Will Not Forget! We Will Not Forgive! Bucha. Irpin. Hostomel” postage stamp block was issued by Ukrposhta on March 31, 2023, marking the anniversary of the liberation of three Hero Cities in the Kyiv region from Russian occupation.

This collectible Ukrainian war stamp block tells the story of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel — places that became known around the world during the first weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Their resistance helped stop Russian forces from advancing on Kyiv, while the destruction and civilian losses made these cities enduring symbols of Ukraine’s suffering and resilience.

Stamp Block Details

• Official Ukrposhta postage stamp block
• Original title: Не забудемо! Не пробачимо! Буча. Ірпінь. Гостомель
• English title: We Will Not Forget! We Will Not Forgive! Bucha. Irpin. Hostomel
• Country: Ukraine
• Year: 2023
• Issue date: March 31, 2023
• 3 postage stamps in the block
• Features Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel
• Includes an image of the legendary Antonov An-225 Mriya
• Limited print run: 100,000 blocks
• Part of Ukrposhta’s wartime and Hero Cities stamp series

The Story Behind the Stamps

The block contains three different stamp designs, each documenting a defining image from the Battle for Kyiv:

• Bucha — destroyed Russian military vehicles on Vokzalna Street, one of the most recognizable images from the liberation of the city.
• Irpin — civilians crossing an improvised route over the Irpin River while escaping the fighting.
• Hostomel — the legendary Ukrainian Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world’s largest cargo aircraft, destroyed at Hostomel Airport during the Russian assault.

The background of the block shows the devastation of Irpin, while the red-and-white warning tape incorporated into the design reinforces the sense of destruction, evidence, and remembrance.

A Symbol of Memory and Resistance

The words “Не забудемо! Не пробачимо!” — “We Will Not Forget! We Will Not Forgive!” transform this issue into much more than a collectible.

It is a memorial to those who died, a record of the destruction endured by Ukrainian communities, and a tribute to the people who resisted and helped defend Kyiv.

Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel were all awarded the honorary title Hero City of Ukraine in 2022.

A Meaningful Ukrainian Collectible

For collectors of Ukrainian postage stamps, Ukrposhta war stamps, Antonov An-225 Mriya memorabilia, military history, or contemporary Ukraine collectibles, this block preserves three defining stories of the defense of Kyiv in one historic philatelic issue.

It is a striking addition to any Ukrainian stamp collection — a small artifact documenting courage, loss, resistance, and remembrance during one of the most important periods in modern Ukrainian history.