Ukraine’s Postal Workers Deliver Lifeline Under Russian Fire
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Ukraine’s postal workers deliver lifeline under Russian fire (13 minutes ago)
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By James Landale in Zaporizhzhia oblast
Every morning, Igor Smelyansky studies a vast map of Ukraine on his office wall and decides where to deploy his teams. His aides provide live intelligence about Russian attacks, balancing operational success against risks to life and limb. But Smelyansky is not a military commander—he’s the head of Ukraine’s state postal service, Ukrposhta.
Ukrposhta does more than deliver letters and parcels. It pays out pensions, processes utility bills, and delivers food and medicine to remote villages where shops are scarce and trips to the city are dangerous. In a nation torn by war, Ukrposhta is crucial for keeping communities connected.
However, this makes it a target for Russia, which has intensified attacks on postmen, sorting offices, and logistical hubs in recent months. The Kremlin claims these strikes are retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian online retailers like Wildberries.
Smelyansky explains: “If we don’t go [to a village], there’s no basic supply. No food. No medicine. People struggle. If we do go, they might delay an evacuation decision.”
There are numerous risks. Unannounced post van arrivals can draw crowds, becoming targets for Russian drone operators. However, advanced notice could leak information to Russian sympathisers.
"Is it a danger?" Smelyansky asks. "Absolutely. Because there are people who can give them the location of the truck that’s coming."
By attacking Ukrposhta, Russia puts pressure on… those depending on the truck’s arrival.
