Ukraine elected to the governing bodies of the Universal Postal Union

Ukraine has been elected as a member of the Administrative Council and the Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) during the 28th Universal Postal Congress held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development Andriy Bratus, included representatives from the Ministry and the national postal operator Ukrposhta.

During the Congress, elections were held for the UPU leadership, including the Director General, Deputy Director General, and new members of the organization’s key governing bodies.

“Important decisions and outcomes for our country and tens of thousands of postal workers across Ukraine. Ukraine’s election to the UPU governing bodies is a recognition and support for the work of those who carry out their duties daily under challenging conditions: amid shelling, power outages, and constant threats to their safety. Their resilience ensures that not only mail but also a sense of connection and hope reaches its destination. We are also grateful to all countries that have consistently supported Ukraine’s postal sector since the onset of the full-scale invasion. Together, we uphold the values of the Union. Together, we demonstrate that postal networks are not just infrastructure but vital channels of communication,” emphasized Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction – Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba.

In his speech to the Congress participants, Andriy Bratus stressed that the Universal Postal Union had been established to organize and improve postal services worldwide and to foster international cooperation in this critical area. However, today, one UPU member is acting in direct violation of these principles.

“russia systematically destroys Ukraine’s postal infrastructure, blatantly disregarding the goals of the Universal Postal Union and international law. Over 1,600 post offices have been either damaged or destroyed, with dozens of workers killed. Just last week, during an attack on a postal van in the village of Yarova, Donetsk region, 25 civilians were killed, and 18 people were injured, including a postal worker. These are not isolated incidents but a deliberate attempt to destroy essential services for people. Yet, the postal sector endures—Ukrposhta and other operators deliver medicines and essential goods, and the national operator also delivers pensions, even to frontline areas. We are grateful to all countries supporting Ukraine. Together, we prove that the postal service is not just about delivery but about life, connection, and hope for millions of people,” Andriy Bratus underscored.

Separately, the Deputy Minister thanked the Danish delegation, which initiated, and the 32 countries that joined a joint statement in support of Ukraine and against the election of russia and belarus to key UPU bodies. The statement emphasized that a country waging an illegal aggressive war against another UPU member, in gross violation of international law and the UN Charter, as well as a country complicit in this war, cannot be elected to leadership positions in any of the Union’s working bodies.

Key topics discussed at this year’s Congress included:

Modernization of postal products, improving service quality, and remuneration amid the growth of e-commerce;

Strengthening the role of the postal sector as a provider of inclusive services;

Ensuring the resilience of postal networks;

Enhancing UPU regional support for developing countries.

Background Information

The Universal Postal Congress is the supreme authority of the Universal Postal Union, a specialized UN agency responsible for the postal sector. It convenes every four years to define the strategy and international rules for the functioning of the global postal network.

The 28th Congress is taking place in Dubai from September 8 to 19, 2025, with representatives from 192 UPU member countries participating.

The Postal Operations Council consists of 48 member countries. Its work focuses on supporting postal services in modernization and improving the quality of services and products, addressing the operational, economic, and commercial aspects of the postal sector.