Postage Stamp "For Your Freedom and Ours!" Dedicated to the Lithuanian City of Panevėžys Was Redeemed in Vinnytsia

"Despite the fact that the cooperation agreement between Vinnytsia and Panevėžys was signed only eight years ago, our common history is quite old. At one time, the Lithuanian-Russian state played a very serious role on the European continent," said Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov, participating in the stamp redemption ceremony, "At the beginning of the full-scale war, we felt support from many sister cities. In the first hours of February 24, I received a call from the mayor of the Polish city of Kielce, Bogdan Wenta, and an hour and a half later, the mayor of Panevėžys, Rytis Mykolas Račkauskas, offered his assistance. And a week later we received the first aid from this city."

At that time, Vinnytsia received aid from Panevėžys in the amount of 50 thousand euros. In addition, this city terminated its partnerships with the russian cities of Mytishchi and Kaliningrad and the Belarusian city of Vitebsk. Subsequently, Vinnytsia received more than 30 tons of humanitarian aid from Lithuanian partners, including food, hygiene products, medical supplies, and thermal clothing.

"We were very pleased to receive children's drawings along with these items, which showed how strongly children perceived the tragedy in Ukraine," said mayor Morhunov. "Later, we thought we should launch a symbolic initiative to thank these cities, countries and peoples. And thanks to the help of Ukrposhta, we were able to implement this initiative."

According to Volodymyr Shalovinskyi, director of Vinnytsia directorate of Ukrposhta, it is very important to recognize those who support us in this difficult time.

"I have felt the help and support of Lithuanians on a personal level since the first days of the war," said Volodymyr Shalovinskyi, "We have a lot in common with them, in particular, they, like us, fought for their freedom."

The stamp "For Your Freedom and Ours!" is the second in the "Brothers in Arms" series. This series was launched in November last year as a sign of gratitude to Vinnytsia's sister cities, which have been united in opposition to a common enemy since the first days of the war. The first stamp of the "Twin Cities" series was issued on the occasion of Poland's Independence and was dedicated to the long-standing friendship between Vinnytsia and Kielce, Poland.

Today's special redemption ceremony took place at the Yakiv Balaban Museum of Ukrainian Stamps. The stamp was presented by Vinnytsia City Council, Vinnytsia Directorate of Ukrposhta, Vinnytsia Tourism Office and the Institute for Urban Development.

After the special redemption ceremony, a copy of the stamped envelope was sent to the municipality of Panevėžys along with a postcard featuring a drawing by 9-year-old Dmytro Fedorchuk, an IDP from Lysychansk. In it, the boy depicted a dove of peace carrying an olive branch in its beak as a symbol of freedom and the restoration of peace in Ukraine. This work is kept in Vinnytsia Museum along with other drawings from the patriotic album created by children from Panevėžys and Vinnytsia in April 2022.

The presentation stamp block "For Your Freedom and Ours!" can be seen at the Yakiv Balaban Museum of Ukrainian Stamps, and stamps can be purchased on the BYVI platform on Instagram and on the Facebook pages of the Tourism Office.

"A total of 50 postal blocks and 300 stamps have been issued, as well as exclusive envelopes and themed postcards," says Tetiana Maievska, director of Vinnytsia Tourism Office. "You can order them on the platform of exclusive Vinnytsia gifts BYVI on Instagram and on the pages of the Tourism Office on Facebook. The cost of one stamp is 100 hryvnias, and a stamped block consisting of nine stamps costs 650 hryvnias."

According to Oleksandr Vesheleni, director of the city's marketing and tourism department, another series is planned to be added to the two existing series "Fighting Geese" and "Brothers in Arms" in the spring.

"It's still a surprise, but I can say that this stamp will be related to the fact that there is a collectible stamp museum and a transport model museum," he said, "so transport themes may appear in the future."