Russian occupation postal administrations
The collapse of any Empire is a grandiose historical event with far-reaching consequences, accompanied by conflicts, wars, the collapse of the old ideology and new hopes. Grief for many, tragedy. But for philatelists, the inevitable formation of new states and temporary postal administrations issuing their own stamps on the “shards of the monster” is a kind of “holiday”
The collapse of Europe's last Empire of the 20th century, the Soviet Union, lasted for decades. The current war between Russia and Ukraine is its direct consequence. “Motherland” oh, how she doesn’t like to “let children go free.” Russia in the 21st century has turned into a new totalitarian Empire with a Soviet legacy. Under one pretext or another, the Kremlin is trying to gain control over part of one or another former Soviet republic. These territories, according to a similar pattern, become unrecognized republics, possessing (usually only formally) the rights of autonomy, but proudly calling themselves independent. They have all the external signs of a state: flags and coats of arms, a “president” and an “army”, sometimes their own currency, but always their own postage stamps! And, as a rule, it is the local postal system in such republics controlled by Russia that is truly autonomous and works stably, even complying with the rules of the UPU. For a philatelist interested in history and politics, this is very interesting!
We call each of the postal administrations of the republics that are not recognized by the world community, but issue their own stamps, Russian occupation territories. For short, “Russian occupation” There are a few of them, we list them:
- part of the territory of Moldova on the left bank of the Dniester with its capital in Tiraspol declared its independence back in 1990 (!) and “wanted” to become part of Russia. This is the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria PMR), has been issuing stamps since 1992
- Two autonomous territories of Georgia have been under the protectorate (essentially under occupation) of Russia since 1993: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Since the same Year they have been releasing their own stamps
- In 2014, Russia occupied Crimea and part of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine. The last two territories received the formal status of “People’s Republics” (Donetsk and Lugansk), which in 2015 organized an autonomous system for delivering correspondence and issuing their own postage stamps
So, for many years, 5 Russian occupation postal administrations have been issuing stamps: Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Donetsk and Lugansk Republics. And these are not “fantasy” releases! Although scammers have many times issued non-existent stamps as if “on behalf of” them. For more than 30 years, specialists from our company Peterstamps have been closely monitoring the issue of stamps from Russian occupation territories, collecting information, publishing catalogues, offering stamps, FDCs, and real mail to collectors. You can always get acquainted with some of our offers in the relevant sections of the store and make purchases. For any questions, please contact our specialists directly by email: info@peterstamps.com
The most important and frequently asked question of a philatelist is what is the purpose and use of stamps of states not recognized by the world community, if they (according to the rules of the UPU) cannot be used to pay for international correspondence? Postage stamps of Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Donetsk and Lugansk Republics are used in most cases for internal correspondence. For international purposes, Transnistria uses stamps from Moldova, and the rest use national stamps of Russia and, accordingly, Russian postal routes. However, there are many examples of letters to Russian addresses (formally international), sent from these occupation territories and paid for with local stamps
It is impossible to accurately predict what the political map of Russian territories will be like in the future. Complex questions are clearly answered by the laws of history - if the Empire enters an aggressive stage, it will necessarily be followed by decline and collapse. In the present, we can state a fact - postage stamps of Russian occupation territories have already taken their place in private, state and museum collections. This direction of collecting is gaining popularity, and in the world's authoritative catalogs of the future they are guaranteed a place by analogy with the consequences of the collapse of other Empires of the last century and world wars
Peterstamps Team International
What are Peterspost stamps?
... interesting fact! In the year when the international postal operator PetersPost stopped issuing new stamps, the number of orders for them increased. In this article, we tried to answer the most frequently asked questions from philatelists about this unique phenomenon in modern philately and postal services. Click to FDC's picture and read! Get acquainted with a (possibly) new area of collecting for you, the history of which was "put on hold" by the Ukrainian War
Birds are the most popular !
Probably, almost every collector would like his favorite theme to be the most popular... however, statistics are a stubborn thing! What is the most popular theme of stamp collecting in the world? It's "Birds"!
New birds "fly" into our store every week, and even more often! In the corresponding section at this link there are already more than a thousand sets and blocks!
Chik-chirik ;-)
EUROPA CEPT 2025 Archaeological discoveries
In the coming 2025, "a holiday on the Philatelists - Archaeologists street"! ;-)
The theme of the most popular joint issue of European postal administrations EUROPA CEPT - Archaeological discoveries.
As usual, we will closely monitor the release of new issues and gradually offer them to you. For those collectors who are especially interested in the topic of Archeology, we invite you to follow the link to the corresponding section of our store.
And the topic of EUROPA is widely represented here:
Have a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year!

Dear collectors! Dear friends!
Thank you for being with us in the past year.
We wish you pleasant holidays, good health, prosperity, interesting philatelic discoveries!
We are happy to accept orders every day, including holidays. Shipments are made daily, except for December 25-26 and January 1
As always in all the years of our work, starting from 1990, the assortment updates are constant, and 2025 will definitely please us with many new unexpectedly interesting things, we already know! ;-)
Your Peterstamps team
UPU 150
The 150th anniversary of the UPU is not only a reason to remember the roots of our common wonderful hobby - philately, but also to "refresh" the popular theme of joint stamp issues. The jubilee date became the reason for the largest joint issue, covering the entire planet. We closely monitor new issues, replenishing the corresponding section of the store. We invite you to familiarize yourself!
;-)
There are more of us!
Dear collectors! Dear friends!
We started fulfilling your orders by post even before the Internet appeared, in the now distant year of 1990. 34 years of work is a period sufficient for objective statistics and good experience. Traditionally, in the summer (especially hot ones), the number of orders falls, buyers take a rest. However, this year "challenged" the trend. We thank you for your increased activity and are especially pleased to welcome new customers attracted thanks to our stores on the Delcampe and HipStamp marketplaces
Please note! Here in our main shop, the choice is always bigger and the prices are lower!
But, in any case, you, as buyers, are always right, and only you can determine what, where and when to buy! Indeed, for buyers from the USA, HipStamp may be more convenient, because the prices there are indicated in dollars, and Delcampe is created with French logic and taste. By clicking on the hyperlinks, you can see our other stores, to which you may be more accustomed
But the best and freshest offers are always first and foremost only in the main store!
Always at your service!
Peterstamps.com team Int
Archive of Press Releases
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Special Offers
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Ukraine 2022 Merry Christmas and Happy New Victory Year! sheetlet MNH 7.00 €

Armenia 2007 Team of Armenia is the champion of the Chess Olympiad 2006 Super full RARE set of all types 7 sheetlets MNH 350.00 €

Ukraine 2013 Beauty and greatness of Ukraine: Republic of Crimea block MNH 2.00 €

Russia 2002 The Hermitage St.Petersburg Art set of 5 special limited edition block's in booklet MNH 20.00 €

Ukraine 2002 Europa CEPT Circus block MNH 1.50 €

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Russia 1995 Song birds Set of 5 stamps MNH 1.00 €

Russia 1992 Stamp Year set cancelled 29.90 €

Estonia Estland Estonie 1995 Louis Pasteur strip of 2 stamps and label RARE ! MNH 50.00 €
