STAMPBOARDS - Postage Stamp Chat Board and Stamp Forum

In this thread mostly one Person writes. And he is totally convinced of his meaning. I tried to discuss with him, but he live in his own World. a World, where Putin would probably gets the next Nobel Peace Price...

Only 600 of this minisheet were issued, to ensure that LPR stamps remain a valued commodity and are not "cheapened" by getting inclusion in kiddie packets.

Wikipedia wrote:The city of Luhansk traces its history to 1795 when the British industrialist Charles Gascoigne founded a metal factory near the Zaporizhian Cossacks settlement Kamianyi Brid. The settlement around the factory was known as Luganskiy Zavod. In 1882 the factory settlement Luganskiy Zavod was merged with the town of Kamianyi Brid into the city of Luhansk.

Located in the Donets Basin, Luhansk developed into an important industrial center of Eastern Europe, particularly as a home to the major locomotive-building company Luhanskteplovoz. The city was occupied by Nazi Germany between 14 July 1942 and 14 February 1943.

On 5 November 1935, the city was renamed Voroshilovgrad (Ворошиловград) in honour of Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov. On 5 March 1958, after Khrushchev's call to not name cities after living people, the old name was reinstated.

Luhansk Media Centre wrote:Security and Customs seize blocks for epées and rapiers worth 1 million Rubles



LUGANSK, November 13, 2020 (Lugansk Media Centre) - The LPR Ministry of State Security has seized smuggled blocks for epées and rapiers worth 1 million rubles in the Slavyanoserbsk district, the MGB press service said.

The MGB mobile group and the staff of the Customs Committee organized an operation along the border in the Slavyanoserbsk district and spotted a Volkswagen Transporter on the road leading to the township of Zheltoye.

"During the vehicle inspection 18 packages of metal blocks for epées and rapiers were discovered, 20 packages were discovered next to the car as a Lugansk resident was loading them into the vehicle."

The car and almost 4,000 blocks have been seized. The smugglers are facing charges under Article 225 of the LPR Criminal Code.

It has been established that the goods were shipped from Ukraine.

Looks like we will now be spared lots of Russkies using swords in the war!





Several folks here raised queries about the war. As the press release quoted pointed out, the frontier folks began attacking the Donbass countries in 2014, and despite 20 truce agreements, the Ukrainians violated all those truces every time, and continued to inflict misery on the civilians.

So from Luhansk's viewpoint, the assistance of the Russian Federation in 2022 was vital, and most welcome. What you or I think about this is irrelevant.

And surely, if I am showing stamps of Donetsk and Luhansk (as this thread deals with), it is totally relevant to quote their news agencies. Although most links I quote are Wikipedia.

As for the violations of the terms of the truce and everything else, I will say one phrase from Bulgakov's novel "The Dog's Heart", the author of which has already been shown here on stamps. "And — God save you — do not read until lunchtime Soviet newspapers."
And as for the philately,since the post offices were shown, here is a photo , and you ask those who opened them on whose equipment and furniture they opened them, that apart from their signage

I feel extremely unsettled by this thread.

I think it is perfectly reasonable, and not just for reasons of free speech, to publish the information imparted here as a neutral academic exercise informing readers about an interesting and current aspect of modern philately but there are far too many comments which appear to be propaganda in support of the Russian invasion of its neighbour which has led to catastrophic consequences for the innocent people of Ukraine who appear to want to live in peace within their country’s own boundaries without fear of being tortured, slaughtered or losing their homes and family, not to mention the increasingly obvious serious consequences of Putin’s aggression for the economies of the free world.

I really think this thread should be ended unless it adopts a strictly matter-of-fact academic tone in delivering the information it is providing and any comments suggesting support for the Russian invaders should be removed.

At a time when the awful events in Ukraine are slipping out of the world news headlines this is not the time for stamp collectors to allow pro-Putin propaganda to filter its way into the literature we read and internet posts we find ourselves looking at.

Totally agree. I do not think that all the "Luhansk Media Center" crap needs to be published here, as it has mostly nothing to to with the stamps Shown.

whiteknight&dog wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 13:01:37 pm . . . I really think this thread should be ended unless it adopts a strictly matter-of-fact academic tone in delivering the information it is providing and any comments suggesting support for the Russian invaders should be removed.

At a time when the awful events in Ukraine are slipping out of the world news headlines this is not the time for stamp collectors to allow pro-Putin propaganda to filter its way into the literature we read and internet posts we find ourselves looking at.

And perhaps (in the interests of strict neutrality) any comments suggesting support for the Ukrainian terrorists should also be omitted.

Panterra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 13:20:15 pm And perhaps (in the interests of strict neutrality) any comments suggesting support for the Ukrainian terrorists should also be omitted.

Umm … Panterra could you enlighten us with your examples of Ukrainian terrorism in the last six months?

The mere fact that you use the words “Ukrainian terrorists” should point us in the direction of exactly what you are using this thread for.

Rigs wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 13:26:01 pm

Panterra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 13:20:15 pm And perhaps (in the interests of strict neutrality) any comments suggesting support for the Ukrainian terrorists should also be omitted.

Umm … Panterra could you enlighten us with your examples of Ukrainian terrorism in the last six months?

The Lugansk Media Center will tell us

All wars have numerous examples of atrocities on both sides, and I'm sure this one is no different from all others.

Both sides in this war blame the other for evil events, and the truth will probably not be known for years, if at all.

Look at the Katyn Massacre in Poland, during World War 2. Thousands were slaughtered. The Russians and Germans each accused the other of doing it.

And remember the Kuwait baby hoax? That one, dreamed up by an American propaganda firm, is now described as "a classic example of modern atrocity propaganda."

Likewise, today the Russians and Ukrainians each accuse the other of dodgy stuff. So rather than all of us flying off the handle and abusing each other, I suggest we just take a few deep breaths and say "Let's suspend judgment till all the facts are revealed."

Panterra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 13:39:15 pm All wars have numerous examples of atrocities on both sides, and I'm sure this one is no different from all others.

Both sides in this war blame the other for evil events, and the truth will probably not be known for years, if at all.

Look at the Katyn Massacre in Poland, during World War 2. Thousands were slaughtered. The Russians and Germans each accused the other of doing it.

And remember the Kuwait baby hoax? That one, dreamed up by an American propaganda firm, is now described as "a classic example of modern atrocity propaganda."

Likewise, today the Russians and Ukrainians each accuse the other of dodgy stuff. So rather than all of us flying off the handle and abusing each other, I suggest we just take a few deep breaths and say "Let's suspend judgment till all the facts are revealed."

Umm … no I disagree Panterra.

The facts are already revealed.

Putin is a murderous wretch, having already slaughtered innocent Ukrainian children and tens of thousands of his own troops for that matter.

Probably mostly young men no older than my sons.

The pain to the families …

(This Word Auto Censored by Board software!) PUTIN and may he rot in hell.

No-one is taken in by your attempt to draw our attention away from the subject by alluding to completely unrelated historical events. An independent country - Ukraine - has been illegally invaded by its powerful neighbour which has resulted in the deaths of thousands and misery of millions as well as creating a severe threat to the economies of many other countries.

Rebellious parts of Ukraine, backed by the powerful neighbour, have illegally declared themselves to be ‘independent states’ but they are not recognised as such by The United Nations nor by any other country except, I think, by the pariah state of Syria which itself is ruled by a vicious, murderous tyrant. Items said to be emanating from these territories which purport to be postage stamps are in circulation and as such, to some philatelists, are of some interest and it is a worthwhile exercise publishing information about them here.

What is completely beyond the Pale is the use of these posts to promote support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine for the reasons given above and additionally to imply that the fault is on the part of the people of Ukraine. No reasonable person would have any sympathy with that point of view and would not wish to read comments suggesting that Putin and his forces are the good guys fighting for a worthy cause - because they’re not. That is not an opinion - that is a fact.

Kosovo?

Only 1,050 of this minisheet were issued, to ensure that LPR stamps remain a valued commodity and are not "cheapened" by getting inclusion in kiddie packets.

Wikipedia wrote:The Prizrak Brigade (Russian: Бригада «Призрак», meaning "Ghost Brigade"), founded by Aleksey Mozgovoy, is an infantry unit of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), one of the self-proclaimed breakaway states located in the Donbas. It is officially designated "Prizrak Mechanized Brigade" and "4th Territorial Defense Brigade (Alchevsk)".

The unit was established in late 2014 after anti-Maidan protesters occupied the RSA buildings in Luhansk. It began as a platoon sized unit, but in August 2014 it became a battalion as the number of fighters grew to 1,000. The commander of the Brigade Aleksey Mozgovoy claimed in late December 2014 to have up to 3,000 fighters. The brigade quickly earned a "feared" reputation and was regarded as one of the best units loyal to the LPR. However, the Prizrak Brigade deliberately stayed outside the developing umbrella structures among the separatists, initially neither joining the Army of the South-East or the Luhansk People's Militia. In early 2015, it fought in the Battle of Debaltseve.

Mozgovoy was killed in an IED and gun ambush on 23 May 2015 along with a number of his bodyguards. Separatist authorities blamed Ukrainian assassins, but investigators and members of his unit suspected that his local rivals were responsible. Researcher Mark Galeotti argued that the assassination was "mysterious" and noted that the Prizrak Brigade ceased its great autonomy following Mozgovoy's death.

Luhansk Media Centre wrote:LPR adjusts rebuilding plans, says President Pasechnik



LUGANSK, 4th August 2022 (Lugansk Media Centre) - The Lugansk People’s Republic has adjusted its rebuilding plans taking into account Russian government recommendations, LPR President Leonid Pasechnik said.

On Thursday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, accompanied by Pasechnik and LPR Prime Minister Sergey Kozlov visited Lisichansk, Severodonetsk, Popasnaya and Rubezhnoye.

“Today, we’ve reported on the work we have completed on our tracks,” Pasechnik said. “Of course, we adjusted the implementation of our measures. It was recommended to us to try other, more effective solutions to restore our ruined territories and power, gas, heat and water supply.”

Of course, the interests of the LPR population have been taken into account, he said.

“We continue to register our population and record and ascertain the precise number of persons eligible for retirement benefit; we carry out their verification working on this track,” the LPR leader added.

Panterra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 15:17:42 pm

Luhansk People's Republic 2020 Celebrating the Commander of the Ghost Brigade, Aleksey Mozgovoy.

Only 1,050 of this minisheet were issued, to ensure that LPR stamps remain a valued commodity and are not "cheapened" by getting inclusion in kiddie packets.

Wikipedia wrote:The Prizrak Brigade (Russian: Бригада «Призрак», meaning "Ghost Brigade"), founded by Aleksey Mozgovoy, is an infantry unit of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), one of the self-proclaimed breakaway states located in the Donbas. It is officially designated "Prizrak Mechanized Brigade" and "4th Territorial Defense Brigade (Alchevsk)".

The unit was established in late 2014 after anti-Maidan protesters occupied the RSA buildings in Luhansk. It began as a platoon sized unit, but in August 2014 it became a battalion as the number of fighters grew to 1,000. The commander of the Brigade Aleksey Mozgovoy claimed in late December 2014 to have up to 3,000 fighters. The brigade quickly earned a "feared" reputation and was regarded as one of the best units loyal to the LPR. However, the Prizrak Brigade deliberately stayed outside the developing umbrella structures among the separatists, initially neither joining the Army of the South-East or the Luhansk People's Militia. In early 2015, it fought in the Battle of Debaltseve.

Mozgovoy was killed in an IED and gun ambush on 23 May 2015 along with a number of his bodyguards. Separatist authorities blamed Ukrainian assassins, but investigators and members of his unit suspected that his local rivals were responsible. Researcher Mark Galeotti argued that the assassination was "mysterious" and noted that the Prizrak Brigade ceased its great autonomy following Mozgovoy's death.

Luhansk Media Centre wrote:LPR adjusts rebuilding plans, says President Pasechnik



LUGANSK, 4th August 2022 (Lugansk Media Centre) - The Lugansk People’s Republic has adjusted its rebuilding plans taking into account Russian government recommendations, LPR President Leonid Pasechnik said.

On Thursday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, accompanied by Pasechnik and LPR Prime Minister Sergey Kozlov visited Lisichansk, Severodonetsk, Popasnaya and Rubezhnoye.

“Today, we’ve reported on the work we have completed on our tracks,” Pasechnik said. “Of course, we adjusted the implementation of our measures. It was recommended to us to try other, more effective solutions to restore our ruined territories and power, gas, heat and water supply.”

Of course, the interests of the LPR population have been taken into account, he said.

“We continue to register our population and record and ascertain the precise number of persons eligible for retirement benefit; we carry out their verification working on this track,” the LPR leader added.

.·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·.
.·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·.

Okay, why do you post this propaganda Bull...t of this Luhansk Media Center? You show the stamp issue and the Wikipedia background jnfo. It this not enough? The Media Center message from August 2022 has nothing to Do with the stamps

mpstamps wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 15:24:27 pm

Panterra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 15:17:42 pm

Luhansk People's Republic 2020 Celebrating the Commander of the Ghost Brigade, Aleksey Mozgovoy.

Okay, why do you post this propaganda Bull...t of this Luhansk Media Center? You show the stamp issue and the Wikipedia background jnfo. It this not enough? The Media Center message from August 2022 has nothing to Do with the stamps

Guten tag, if I hadn't quoted that innocuous little snippet from Luhansk, we would never have known that the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation had made a trip to this war-torn country, this week. I bet you didn't see that in newspapers in your country.

Us philatelists are entitled to have an enquiring examination of the lands whose stamps we collect. And I know of no other source for news of LPR than the Media Centre. (They must be good: they even had a commemorative stamp issued to celebrate them! Even Dr Goebbels didn't achieve that!)

Western propaganda.... The English state-controlled BBC, New York Times, CNN, Sky, The Guardian etc is so clever it's readers don't actually call it propaganda. Now that's propaganda!

I may be mis-reading this, but it appears that this minisheet (celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Luhansk Information Centre) was issued in an extremely limited edition of only 300 sheets! If so, that is an abysmally small print run for a commemorative set, and would deprive thousands of Luhansk philatelists from the chance to add one of these to their collections.

Why ever would they do such a small run, with such a nice stamp?

Surely even the Info Centre would want to buy a few thousand to use on their office mail!

In fact, we should all write to them, seeking such a sheet! Either your letter will get "returned to sender" due to the ban on contacts (in which case you gain a valuable censored cover!), or you may actually get a reply, with one of these rare minisheets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luhansk Media Centre wrote:Lugansk Media Center celebrates Second Anniversary

Luhansk, 5th December 2016 - LMC.The Lugansk People's Republic's President Igor Plotnitskiy issued a decree on establishing the State News Agency Lugansk Media Centre on 4th December, 2014.

"A news agency has been established, and I ask all ministers to assist it by providing information," Plotnitsky said at one of the meetings with the Government that were held daily during that tough winter.

The decree said the new agency was attributed the status of an official online news platform of the LPR Head and was established to "publish reliable information on the events in the Lugansk People's Republic, legislative and executive powers work, and to publish laws and regulations".

Over these two years, the Lugansk Media Centre has been growing and developing together with the Republic. The agency's first news items, though quick and rough, were used by major Russian and international news agencies and have contributed, along with the photos and videos, to creating a comprehensive picture of the LPR people's fight for freedom. The Lugansk Media Center and its work has become a showcase of Lugansk and the Lugansk region's return to life, as western occupiers failed to conquer this land.

The agency has always stood current on the events unfolding in Donbass.

It was in the Lugansk Media Center press room where the LPR President signed the Agreement on withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact on 20th February, 2015.

The agency's correspondents have always been at the forefront, be it military action or reconstruction of infrastructure and national economy.

Yet another proof of the agency's great performance is that Ukrainian mass media are routinely citing and quoting Lugansk Media Center publications, though often trying to misinterpret the information and brainwash their audience into believing that things are bad in Lugansk.

The web site of the news agency has been hit by cyber-attacks plotted by foreign forces who conspired to deprive Lugansk people of information.

So far, the Lugansk Media Center has published 19,500 articles, including news items, interviews, reports, photo stories and documents.

Representatives of Donbass authorities, Ukraine, Russia, European and other countries have spoken to the agency.

About 1,000 press conferences and briefings were held in the Lugansk Media Center.

The agency's audience is continuously and sustainably growing: on the day the LPR President signed the decree on establishing the agency, the number of website users stood at 1,600. Six months later, on June, 4th, 2015, the figure was at 42,000 in a day. A year later the website statistics showed 65,000 readers per day.

During these two years overall, 9¾ million people visited the agency's website, with hits of 34½ million, with 65 to 68 thousand daily views.

The average visitor spends about 5 minutes per day reading the website, opening at least four news items. 62.7% of the audience are males, mostly young adults and middle aged people (75%).

The majority of readers come from LPR or Kiev-controlled Lugansk region areas (68%), Ukraine (18.4%), Russia (10.6%) and other countries: the German audience comprises about 25 thousand readers, 19 thousand in the US and 10 thousand in Italy.

Overall, citizens of 118 countries of the world have read Lugansk Media Centre news.

In September 2016 an English-language website of the Lugansk Media Centre was launched to provide English-speaking audiences with reliable information on events in the Donbass.

This minisheet, like most LPR comemoratives, was issued in an extremely limited edition of only 1,000 sheets.


I completely oppose this concept of "limited editions" (though I can see their viewpoint that their "collectables" should remain highly-valued and sought-after.) I would prefer they used the "Trucial States" model, and produce their commemoratives in vast numbers, so they would end up in every kiddie packet.

This is the first time (as far as I can see from examining all their other stamps) that the full name of the country, LUHANSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC, has been inscribed on its stamps. Here in both Russian and English. Other stamps merely show the initials of the country: LPR.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luhansk Media Centre wrote:Almost 16,000 prospective students apply to LPR universities

Luhansk, 4th August 2022 - LMC. Almost 16,000 young people have applied to Lugansk People’s Republic universities, the LPR Education and Science Ministry press service reported.

“University applications have closed in the Lugansk People’s Republic. Overall, 15,863 prospective students have applied to LPR higher education centers,” the press service said adding that entrance examinations were about to start.

The Ministry reported 1,852 prospective students from liberated areas and 42 from Ukraine.

University applications in the LPR opened on June 26. Prospective students were given the opportunity to apply online.

The LPR has seven universities: Vladimir Dal Lugansk State University, Lugansk State Pedagogical University, Lugansk State Agrarian University, St Luke Lugansk State Medical University, Mikhail Matusovsky Lugansk State Academy of Culture and Arts, Edvard Didorenko Lugansk State Academy of Interior Affairs and Donbass State Technical Institute (in Alchevsk).

Good luck to all the new students!

drh wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 07:27:27 am Good luck to all the new students!

Let's hope most of those new students take up philately!

If you carefully examine with your magnifier the microscopic date below the Donetsk crest, you can distinguish two different dates. This cover has both.

Here is a close-up to show this more clearly:

Donetsk News Agency wrote: Medvedev visits LPR, holds talks with Pushilin, Pasechnik.

Donetsk, August 11, 2022 — DAN. The Deputy-Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Mr Dmitry Medvedev, has had his first-ever meeting in Lugansk on Thursday with the Heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, President Denis Pushilin and President Leonid Pasechnik.​

“On Thursday, I visited the Lugansk People’s Republic where I met with LPR and DPR Heads Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin,” Mr Medvedev wrote on Telegram. “I chaired a conference at the suggestion of the Russian president, which was devoted to important measures to ensure the security of the Donbass Republics.”

The meeting was attended by Russian Prosecutor-General Igor Krasnov, First Deputy Head of the presidential administration Sergey Kiriyenko, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister of Construction Irek Faizullin, Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov and Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin. The participants also discussed assistance in the economic and social development of the Donbass region.

“Special attention was paid to the harmonization of LPR and DPR laws with the Russian legal system, the rebuilding of infrastructure, repairs of hospitals and preparations of schools for the new school year, the solution of social problems and support of citizens,” Mr Medvedev said.

He said that Mr Bastrykin had informed the participants about progress in the investigation of crimes committed by Ukrainian gunmen and the evidence gathered with initiated criminal cases.

It is the first-ever report on Mr Medvedev’s visit to the Donbass.

I am unclear on the reasoning behind the two types of this stamp. "Issue 1" shows 1869, while "Issue 2" shows 2021.

Perhaps these are just small details to boost magnifying-lens sales to philatelists‽

Amazing stuff, these items from the young shoots of freedom are certainly going to be collectors treasure for philetalists across the BRICS countries and beyond.

This minisheet, like most LPR comemoratives, was issued in an extremely limited edition. This time, only 960 sheets were issued, which is a tiny number considering that "Space" is rated as one of the top 5 collecting topics in the world.


I completely oppose this concept of "limited editions" (though I can see the Luhansk viewpoint that their "collectables" should remain highly-valued and sought-after.) I would prefer they used the "Trucial States" model, and produce their commemoratives in vast numbers, so they would end up in every kiddie packet.

Wikipedia wrote:Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. Travelling in the Vostok 1 capsule, Gagarin completed one orbit of Earth on 12 April 1961. By achieving this major milestone in the Space Race he became an international celebrity, and was awarded many medals and titles, including Hero of the Soviet Union, his nation's highest honour.

Gagarin was born in the Russian village of Klushino, and in his youth was a foundryman at a steel plant in Lyubertsy. He later joined the Soviet Air Force as a pilot, before his selection for the Soviet space programme with five other cosmonauts. Following his spaceflight, Gagarin became deputy training director of the Cosmonaut Training Centre, which was later named after him. He was also elected as a deputy of the Soviet of the Union in 1962 and then to the Soviet of Nationalities, respectively the lower and upper chambers of the Supreme Soviet.

Vostok 1 was Gagarin's only spaceflight, but he served as the backup crew to the Soyuz 1 mission, which ended in a fatal crash, killing his friend and fellow cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov. Fearful that a national hero might be killed, Soviet officials banned Gagarin from further spaceflights. After completing training at the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy in February 1968, he was again allowed to fly regular aircraft. Gagarin died five weeks later when the MiG-15 training jet he was piloting with flight instructor Vladimir Seryogin crashed near the town of Kirzhach.

Yuri is shown on the right-hand stamp of this minisheet. The left stamp features another pioneer Russian cosmonaut, Georgy Timofeyevich Beregovoy. On 25th October, 1968, Beregovoy took the Soyuz 3 into outer space: he orbited the Earth for almost four days at altitudes up to 252 km. As part of his mission, Beregovoy twice maneuvered his craft into rendezvous positions with the unmanned Soyuz 2 satellite but was unable to establish a direct physical link to the craft before returning on October 30, 1968.

Nonetheless, Beregovoy's flight was in some ways an encouraging success for the Soviet human space program, and the colonel was celebrated as a hero upon his return.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luhansk Media Centre wrote:LPR records more than 2,500 wildfires in 2022

Luhansk, 16th August 2022 - LMC. More than 2,500 fires have occurred in the Lugansk People’s Republic’s ecosystem since the beginning of this year, the LPR Emergencies Ministry press service reported.

“Overall, 2,530 fires in the LPR ecosystem have been recorded since the beginning of this year,” the press service said.

In the last 24 hours, 84 blazes in open territories were extinguished.

Twenty-two fires have occurred in the Republic over the past 24 hours; of those, 14 devastated more than 20 hectares of the ecosystem.

As of August 4, the LPR had reported 2.2 thousand grass fires.

Many European countries are suffering from wildfires, due to climate change and drought. But in Luhansk, neighbours shooting at them undoubtedly add to the fire danger. Let's all hope for peace soon!

God bless the Eastern Ukrainians ie Malorussia and Novorossiya people. Thanks for your latest update Panterra.

And God bless the rest of Ukraine and the victims of the "special Military operation", I mean WAR

So if I understood correctly reading this thread - sending letters from abroad (e.g. from the EU or China) to the Donbas area is currently carried out via the Russian Post, while on the spot it is carried out by local institutions referred to as "post"?

And the second question - currently in the Donbass area, sending letters between localities is possible only through local institutions known as "post office"?

BTW. I admit that some of these stamps and FDC look very nice and would certainly be interesting assets in the collection.

Jontek wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 21:34:33 pm So if I understood correctly reading this thread - sending letters from abroad (e.g. from the EU or China) to the Donbas area is currently carried out via the Russian Post, while on the spot it is carried out by local institutions referred to as "post"?

And the second question - currently in the Donbass area, sending letters between localities is possible only through local institutions known as "post office"?

BTW. I admit that some of these stamps and FDC look very nice and would certainly be interesting assets in the collection.

Yes Jontek, I believe that the Post Office is the organisation that delivers letters and parcels in Luhansk and Donetsk, as in most other countries. You are correct in your assessment of their stamps as very attractive and well-designed: in fact, far superior to most stamps of other larger countries. And if you are able to get some for your collection (a rather difficult chore with the ongoing war!), your collection would have significant value (mainly due to the limited editions they are issued in: a policy I firmly disapprove of.)







This beautiful minisheet, like most LPR comemoratives, was issued in March 2019 in a limited edition. This time, only 2,400 sheets were issued, which is a tiny number considering that "maps" are rated as a very popular collecting topic today.

Wikipedia wrote:The North Crimean Canal (Russian: Северо-Крымский канал) is a land improvement canal for irrigation and watering of Kherson Province in southern Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula. The canal also has multiple branches throughout Kherson Province and Crimea.

The construction preparation started in 1957 soon after the transfer of Crimea of 1954. The main project work took place between 1961 and 1971 and had three stages. The construction was conducted by Komsomol members supplied via the Komsomol free-travel tickets (Комсомольская путёвка) as part of shock construction projects and contributed some 10,000 volunteer workers.

Ukraine shut down the canal in 2014 soon after the Russian annexation of Crimea, but flow of water was restored in March 2022 during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A 2015 study found that the canal had been providing 85% of Crimea's water prior to the canal's 2014 shutdown. Of that water from the canal, 72% went to agriculture and 10% to industry, while water for drinking and other public uses made up 18%.

As I have indicated previously, this present war is the first of the planet's water wars, though I doubt it will be the last. Had the foolish Ukrainians not spitefully turned off the water to Crimea, Russia would not have been forced to take firm action to capture Kherson and blow up the dam obstructing the water.

Many folks are making rude remarks about Russia for starting the present war, but these folks fail to see things from the Russian perspective. Crimea has traditionally been Russian territory (dating from around the USA's declaration of independence!) and it occupies a vital strategic position. If the Russophobic NATO had got their claws on it, Russia would be doomed, so it was essential for Russia to annex it in 2014 before Ukraine joined up to NATO and provoked war.

Crimea was falling into drought conditions, despite the Russians sending many truck loads of water over the Kerch bridge, but that is hugely expensive and cannot deliver nearly enough water for the farmers of the vast Crimean peninsula. Most Russians were anxious to remedy the dilemma their thirsty fellow-countrymen in Crimea were suffering, which is the reason why President Putin has such huge support in Russia for waging this war. The Ukrainians chose as their best counter-move, to assassinate the young daughter of one of the President's allies: a big PR blunder, imho.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luhansk Media Centre wrote:Vostokugol miners produce two million tons of coal in 2022

Luhansk, 7th August 2022 - LMC. The Vostokugol Republican Fuel Company has produced two million tons of coal since the beginning of this year, the press service of the Lugansk People’s Republic government reported.

“Vostokugol’s working collective has produced the second million tons of coal since the beginning of 2022,” the report said.

The government said that the coalminers are “making tremendous efforts in wartime to ensure uninterrupted supply of fuel for our power plants and metallurgical sector.”

“This level of output was achieved by six Vostokugol divisions. Krasnodon Mine Administration’s Barakovo colliery contributed the last tons to complete the two-million-ton benchmark,” the press service said.

Krasnodon Mine manager Alexander Niskevich noted the company’s steady operation despite the present difficulties.

“When miners work successfully, other branches of industry and spheres of activity feel confidence. Miners are a group of workers who keep overcoming difficulties because it’s never easy in the coal industry. Despite the present-day reality, we’re not standing still; our company is in for the long haul,” Mr Niskevich said.

On April 4, Vostokugol produced its first million tons of coal in 2022. On May 25, the output reached 1½ million tons and on May 9, the company marked Victory Day with a record daily output of 17,000 tons.

Lugansk Mine Administration Production Director Gennady Dmitrov said that the company had been maintaining daily output levels though many miners had been mobilized.

Earlier, the Lugansk People’s Republic's Prime Minister, Mr Sergey Kozlov, said that the restructuring of the Republic’s coal industry and the establishment of the Vostokugol state-owned enterprise helped to double the number of newly-opened coal faces and boost production by 2½ times. The LPR President Leonid Pasechnik, who set the main guidelines for the coal industry's restructuring, said that Vostokugol would become the locomotive for the Republic’s economy.

Many thanks yet again for such an informative post, Panterra. The British state-controlled media does not report on any of this, and I am sure Britishers are unaware of the Water War issue. All social media channels censor news here and cancel most who offer an alternative view. We still have access to the broadcasts of former Labour MP George Galloway, now leader of the Workers' Party of Britain however and his update yesterday on the Ukrainian terrorist attack as well as suspected biological attacks on Russian soldiers yesterday was news indeed, viewable on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/IclVuStEY6o

As one of the more leaned posters here, grounded in historical analysis, do you see parallels with the Crimean War of the 1840s?

Yet more on coal in the Donbass countries:




The DPR issued this unusual-shape stamp (to emulate the random shape of a lump of coal) in its minisheet in 2021 to celebrate the birthday of the coal industry, the main industry of the country (and one which is increasingly frowned upon, due to its effects on climate change.)

So while the Donestskians and Luhanskians can easily load railway freight cars with coal by the tonne, there are fewer clients than formerly for this desirable product. And with the ongoing war, I am guessing that most of those train-loads of coal will now be heading east, to supply Russian industry, rather than west.

Interesting to see Tsar Peter the Great, Пётр Алексе́евич on the left selvedge of the sheet. A monarch who did a lot to enhance the stature of Russia and make it a modern nation. The sort of guy who would not tolerate anyone stealing water from his peasants!

DRH, the comparison with the Crimean War in the 1850s is apt. That war seems quite personal to me, as I have been aboard the hulk of one of the ships that was parked up in Crimea during that war, and which Florence Nightingale was also aboard (though not at the same time as me!)

It is quite frightening how many similarities exist between that war and the present one!






On your next visit to New Zealand, be sure to visit this historic ship! Extremely impressive, but sadly now mastless and minus its top deck. Several of the "slots" in which its "steerage" passengers (the cheapest berth, no private cabin) uncomfortably slept, have been re-created. History comes alive when you visit such places!

I have begun a thematic collection of the Edwin Fox, but it mainly comprises postcards, plus this one stamp.

The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Earth edition wrote:Visitors to the Edwin Fox Museum will first visit the exhibition of historical artefacts associated with the ship. It is a fascinating insight into the varied career of the Edwin Fox and a tribute to the brave souls who made such hazardous voyages to deliver cargo or start a new life. On its own it would make an interesting hour for someone interested in maritime history. However, the high point of the visit is still to come.

In dry dock stands the Edwin Fox. She is a hugely impressive sight even now. The teak beams are in near-perfect condition and redolent with history. It is an incredible experience to go below decks. You are standing where so many other people ate, slept, died and brought new life into the world. The hairs on the nape of your neck stand up and you realise that you are standing on the dry dock equivalent of the Titanic. Whether you are spiritual or not, you cannot escape the idea that the 'ghosts' of the past are watching you. The hull itself is still covered with the copper sheeting, now green with age. It is nothing less than living history.

That stamp and minisheet of 300th anniversary of the Donbass Coal Basin looks really nice. Designers had creative idea to emulate the shape of a lump of coal.

While there is no doubt that Western media etc. give an unbalanced view of the situation, (after all - we invaded Iraq- a Sovereign Country!), I certainly wouldn't purchase the products of these gangster led entities which still have posters of Stalin around and call their secret police the MGB!



(Although I must admit that I have the above one as part of my "Spies, Espionage and Secret Police" collection!)

Funny how the narrative changes, at the behest of those behind the scenes.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/04/welcome-to-the- ... pe-ukraine
https://www.cato.org/commentary/whitewashing-ukraines-corruption
And from London's Financial Times, in May 2022:
"Nato and EU sound alarm over risk of Ukraine weapons smuggling
Countries call for greater tracking of arms to stop sales to Europe’s black market"
https://www.ft.com/content/bce78c78-b899-4dd2-b3a0-69d789b8aee8

The people's militias of coal miners and steel workers of the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics are saints compared to the real gangsters stealing the taxpayers' money from the West.

drh, have you first looked at the calendar before posting these old fakes that are nothing more than a Russian propaganda special operation via their influence agents in the West? It's the end of August now, and the "stolen weapons" work perfectly destroying enemy's headquarters and ammunition depots

You'd better have written about a civil train destroyed by Russian rockets on Ukraine's Independence day, with dozens of casualties (including 2 children, one of them burnt inside a car - just 6 years old).

And another thing - what does you post have in common with philately?

My excuses to the Modrerators and Stampoboard colleages for following the bad example - I just couldn't help answering that stupid propaganda.

drh's post has nothing at all to do with philately. Perhaps drh should remember this thread is under the umbrella thread

Discuss stamps - and *anything* at ALL happening with stamps!

OldDuffer1 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 26, 2022 11:32:21 am While there is no doubt that Western media etc. give an unbalanced view of the situation, (after all - we invaded Iraq- a Sovereign Country!), I certainly wouldn't purchase the products of these gangster led entities which still have posters of Stalin around and call their secret police the MGB!



(Although I must admit that I have the above one as part of my "Spies, Espionage and Secret Police" collection!)

Well, if you are going to use the "evil regimes ought not to be collected!" argument, most of our albums would be slim indeed.

I hate what Hitler and the Nazi party did, yet I have made a collection of Germany which includes most of the stamps of his regime. Should I feel "guilty" because the premiums on the "charity stamps" went to the Nazi party, and may have paid for zyklon gas or bomb-construction, with which my cousins in Europe were exterminated?

And I hate the Chinese communists, who starved millions to death in the Great Leap Forward (death estimates range from 15 million to 55 million!). Yet I compiled a big collection of their commemoratives and special issues right up to the Cultural Revolution, at which time philately was declared illegal. Should I feel "guilty" because my stamp purchases may have bought torture-implements and guns with which the CCP has murdered Tibetans and Falun Gong folks?

Collect the Luhansk and Donetsk stamps if they suit your thematic or aesthetic taste. It's just as bad (or good‽) as collecting the USA or France or the Maldive Islands.

Panterra made my exact relativist point but with a lot more flair and style.

The difference is: When somebody shows here philatelic material from Germany Nazi Era, China under Mao, Russia under Stalin, North Korea, Khmer,... or what else, he shows the material and that's it. You guys show e.g. DPR & Co. stamps from 2017 and then share recent Russian propaganda bullsh*t over the war. So I ask you why????

mpstamps wrote: ↑Fri Aug 26, 2022 22:22:19 pm The difference is: When somebody shows here philatelic material from Germany Nazi Era, China under Mao, Russia under Stalin, North Korea, Khmer,... or what else, he shows the material and that's it. You guys show e.g. DPR & Co. stamps from 2017 and then share recent Russian propaganda bullsh*t over the war. So I ask you why????

Manuel, when you mount and display your stamp collection, you may choose to just arrange the stamps on pages with no commentary, or you may prefer (like all the best collections!) to add LOTS of additional information, including details of the country, the folks depicted, and the history of the land.

For example, when I display my Tuva stamps (from a tiny land that few folks are familiar with), I find it essential to add a lot of detail. Here is the way I showed their Dalai Lama stamps:
https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=6225303#p6225303

and here is how I showed the giant asteroid that crashed into our planet and wiped out the dinosaurs:
https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=6229185#p6229185


and here is where I discuss throat-singing, showing the stamp, and even with a link where you can listen to this singing:
https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=6871268#p6871268

and here is where I discuss Mrs Toka, pioneer feminist and former Head of State, who 99% of the planet have never heard of:
https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=6753274#p6753274


Most of the references and sources are Wikipedia and Youtube, and I cite the source in each case.

So don't you agree that my messages would be FAR less interesting had I merely showed the stamps without any commentary at all?

With Luhansk and Donetsk, as these are such new countries and most folks in the western hemisphere are completely ignorant of them, I chose to quote lots of background information to give you a clearer picture of those lands. Many others have cited western propaganda or fake-news stories, so surely adding a bit of balance by citing the news agencies of those actual countries, is a sensible move. Don't you feel much more informed about Tuva, Luhansk, and Donetsk after reading my messages and viewing those Youtube documentaries?

Okay. You got me wrong. Of course people show additional Information about stamps and the countries, but not from so very doubtful sources and propaganda like you do.

But it is your choice. Do what you like

This minisheet, like most LPR comemoratives, was issued in an extremely limited edition. This time, only 1,002 sheets were issued.

Luhansk Media Centre wrote:More than half LPR schools to open in offline mode on September 1st

Luhansk, 29th August 2022 - LMC. More than half of the LPR districts will start the academic year in the traditional mode of learning, the Education Ministry said.

"The heads of municipal and regional Education of the LPR have made decisions on the organization of the educational process," the report reads.

Schools are opening on September 1st in offline mode in 18 towns in regions, while 11 municipalities decided to keep schools in distant-learning mode. Most schools that will operate online are located in the regions that often come under Ukrainian fire.

The decisions are subject to change, depending on the security situation.

Ukraine has been carrying out a military crackdown against the Donbass since 2014. Multiple ceasefire agreements failed to stabilize the situation. The simmering armed conflict escalated rapidly in February this year, and sent the Donbass spiraling towards unprecedented bloodshed.

Russia intervened on February 24th by launching a special military operation to demilitarize Ukraine and bring peace back to the Donbass.

It is truly good news to hear that Luhansk is taking education of the young seriously. With the neighbours shooting at them, the stress must be immense for the children. Let's all hope for peace soon!

Thanks again - I wonder why they released 1,002 and not 1,000!

drh wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 15:24:13 pm Thanks again - I wonder why they released 1,002 and not 1,000!

It's probably so you and I can each get a sheet, in addition to the other 1,000 collectors in Europe!

But I really find this "limited edition" concept appalling.

I once was a serious collector of New Zealand stamps, and regularly purchased all their new issues, just to keep my collection "up to date".

But I gave up when the NZ Post Office released a commemorative set on 7th February 1980. On the day of issue, I visited the Philatelic Sales Centre in Auckland to buy a few sets and the minisheet, and was told "Sorry all the minisheets have sold out. You'll have to buy one from a dealer!"

Shock horror! I then and there decided to give up on NZ stamps. If the Post Office is so dodgy and unreliable as to not sell a new minisheet to a client on the first day, that (imho) puts them in the same category as the "appendix" countries, as defined by the Stanley Gibbons catalogue: having stamps not "available to the general public at face value with no artificial restrictions being imposed on their distribution". *

So I realised that NZ has now become a "Third World" land (philatelically), and gave up my collecting of their stamps.

Sadly, I think Luhansk with their attempt to add value to their stamps by making them "very limited editions", is falling into this same category. So sad for the thousands of would-be philatelists in Luhansk and Donetsk!

When I next meet President Pasechnik, I will urge him to change this policy, and flood the globe with LPR stamps!



__________
* Curiously enough, with the passage of time, that "elusive minisheet" has now become widely available, and I have bought one (at less than face value!!!) just to keep as a memento of WHY I gave up on collecting NZ stamps.

Funny story! I am glad that I have an intense loathing of mimisheets, FDCs and stuff like that.

How I would love a real cover from one of the fledgling countries of Luhansk and Donetsk, and maybe Kherson and Kharkhov in the near future....

Alas, I live in the minority sector of states that are sanctioning its own people to prop up a corrupt regime, and mail is censored and restricted.

Perhaps collectors in Hungary, Serbia, India, China, Brazil, South Africa (all of Africa then), all of Asia and all of Latin America could open up mail swaps with the citizens of DPR and LPR?

drh wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 16:53:59 pm Alas, I live in the minority sector of states that are sanctioning its own people to prop up a corrupt regime, and mail is censored and restricted.

Unlike the "Persil white" regime in Russia? If you find "Western Society" so awful why not nip over there to live? Then you can freely say whatever you like!

OldDuffer1 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 17:11:54 pm

drh wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 16:53:59 pm Alas, I live in the minority sector of states that are sanctioning its own people to prop up a corrupt regime, and mail is censored and restricted.

Unlike the "Persil white" regime in Russia? If you find "Western Society" so awful why not nip over there to live? Then you can freely say whatever you like!

But do read about the fate of the philharmonic orchestra from Donetsk first

OldDuffer1 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 17:11:54 pm

drh wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 16:53:59 pm Alas, I live in the minority sector of states that are sanctioning its own people to prop up a corrupt regime, and mail is censored and restricted.

Unlike the "Persil white" regime in Russia? If you find "Western Society" so awful why not nip over there to live? Then you can freely say whatever you like!

I would be reluctant to live there, until they change their philatelic policy, on which I have frequently expressed misgivings.

And they speak a different language, with which I am unfamiliar.

Panterra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 22:57:20 pm

OldDuffer1 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 17:11:54 pm

drh wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 16:53:59 pm Alas, I live in the minority sector of states that are sanctioning its own people to prop up a corrupt regime, and mail is censored and restricted.

Unlike the "Persil white" regime in Russia? If you find "Western Society" so awful why not nip over there to live? Then you can freely say whatever you like!

I would be reluctant to live there, until they change their philatelic policy, on which I have frequently expressed misgivings.

!!!!?????

OldDuffer1 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 12:25:47 pm

Panterra wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 22:57:20 pm

OldDuffer1 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 17:11:54 pm

drh wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 16:53:59 pm Alas, I live in the minority sector of states that are sanctioning its own people to prop up a corrupt regime, and mail is censored and restricted.

Unlike the "Persil white" regime in Russia? If you find "Western Society" so awful why not nip over there to live? Then you can freely say whatever you like!

I would be reluctant to live there, until they change their philatelic policy, on which I have frequently expressed misgivings.

!!!!?????

Well, OldDuffer, I am guessing you are wondering at my issue with the Luhansk Post Office. It's the same gripe I have about the New Zealand Post Office, which provoked me to give up collecting the stamps of my country seriously, when they "did the dirty" on me by refusing to sell me new issues at face value on the issue day (as discussed in my post of 30th August 2022.)

So I would be totally unenthusiastic about moving to a country where one has to be the equivalent of the "National Lottery" winner just to buy each set or minisheet on issue day.

As I wrote in my remarks about the Yuri Gagarin stamps:

This minisheet, like most LPR comemoratives, was issued in an extremely limited edition. This time, only 960 sheets were issued, which is a tiny number considering that "Space" is rated as one of the top 5 collecting topics in the world.


I completely oppose this concept of "limited editions" (though I can see the Luhansk viewpoint that their "collectables" should remain highly-valued and sought-after.) I would prefer they used the "Trucial States" model, and produce their commemoratives in vast numbers, so they would end up in every kiddie packet.

The Donbass is a coal-mining and industrial region, not my favorite spot to live. New Zealand has lots of coal mining too, and I have spent my life trying to live as far away from that activity as possible! My interest in the new issues of Luhansk and Donetsk is purely academic: I have absolutely no wish to move to a coal-based land where I am ignorant of the language. But thanks for suggesting that DRH and I could move there! As far as I am concerned, having spent a few years in Australia in my younger days, I'll stay in clean, green New Zealand. Despite their unreasonable philatelic policy, I am free to collect stamps of other lands I do enjoy.

No comment.