Boxing Legend Wladimir Klitschko To Release NFT Collection To Support Ukraine's Resistance

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko is all set to sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens) in a collaboration, aimed at raising money for his homeland Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia's invasion. He will be teaming up with New York-based artist WhIsBe for the sale.

The NFT collection will be released Wednesday on popular marketplace OpenSea and the sale will run for the next three weeks, said a statement released Tuesday by NFT creative agency Metacurio.

WhIsBe is re-fashioning his "Vandal Gummy" bears artwork that features colorful gummy bears in police lineup photos. The new round of art with four NFT editions will be centered on gummy bears in the colors of the Ukrainian flag -- blue and yellow.

The "Vandalz for Ukraine: WhIsBe x Wladimir Klitschko" 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.

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

Klitschko, 45, is the brother of Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko, a former boxing champion who has also vowed to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression.

“It is a magnificent initiative: a support through art, a superb "supp-art" at the service of people who suffer,” said Wladimir Klitschko. “Art can be beautiful on many levels when used to serve humanity.”

“I'm grateful for the opportunity to be of service for the greater good,” noted WhIsBe. “It's incredible to be able to use my art and this emerging technology to help others in need and provide immediate relief to any location in the world.”

Russia launched a full-scale attack against Ukraine nearly two weeks ago, with Russia shelling cities in the former Soviet republic. Since then, Ukraine has been receiving funds from several organizations and countries.