The city of Volnovakha, located on one of the highest points of the Azov Upland, was one of the first to be attacked by the Russian invaders on February 24, 2022. In February and March, heavy fighting took place for the city, which is an important railway junction on the Mariupol-Donetsk and Mariupol-Zaporizhzhia lines. The residents of Volnovakha, who in 2016 distinguished themselves by creating a chain of unity of more than two thousand citizens called “Donbas is Ukraine,” together with Ukrainian defenders, bravely resisted the enemy. However, during the two weeks of shelling, the city was almost completely destroyed, and local residents were forced to evacuate.
On March 6, 2022, by the Decree of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the city was awarded the honorary title of “Hero City of Ukraine” to commemorate the feat, mass heroism and resilience of citizens who defended their cities during the repulsion of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.
The artistic card for the postal issue “City of Heroes. Volnovakha” contains the slogan ”I am Volnovakha. Je suis Volnovakha”, which became famous in 2015 after a terrorist attack near the city, when the occupiers shot Ukrainian soldiers and a passenger bus at a checkpoint, killing defenders and civilians.
We are waiting for Ukrainian Volnovakha to return home!