Wladimir Klitschko to release an NFT collection

Former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko will sell NFTs in a collaboration aimed at raising money for his native country Ukraine to protect the country from Russia's invasion.

Klitschko has partnered with New York artist WhIsBe for a collection to be released on the NFT marketplace OpenSea. WhIsBe is redesigning the "Vandal Gummy" bears artwork featuring colourful gummy bears in police lineup photos. The focus of the new art round with four NFT editions is the blue and yellow gummy bears, which are the colours of the Ukrainian flag. The collection will be available at the $100, $1,000, and $10,00 price points and a 1-of-1 NFT will be sold for $1 million. 

Ukraine and its supporters, including NGOs and DAOs, have raised millions of dollars through cryptocurrency donations and other fundraising options. Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine almost two weeks ago, and Russia bombarded the cities of the former Soviet Republic.

Wladimir Klitschko has won the World Boxing Organization heavyweight title twice, is reported to have joined the Ukrainian reserve army. Klitschko's brother Vitali, a former boxing champion and now mayor of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has vowed to protect Ukraine from the invasion of Russia.

Proceeds from the  "Vandalz for Ukraine" NFT sales will go to Red Cross Ukraine and UNICEF and participating partners will waive their fees. The sales will run for three weeks.