Russia tried to disrupt Banksy's online auction to raise funds for Ukraine

The Guardian reports.

The world-renowned artist Banksy has announced an online auction, which was helped by the Legacy of War Foundation. The charitable organization provides assistance to civilians affected by conflicts. 

The auction will offer 50 limited edition prints by the artist, and the raised funds, according to Banksy, will be used to support Ukraine.

Thus, 50 prints with a mouse scratching on the box with the inscription "fragile" were put up for sale. Each one is signed, numbered and unique, as Banksy personally applied "mouse scratches" to each copy using a pizza cutter. Such print costs £5,000 per piece. To receive it, fans had to register online.

"We are currently sifting through the registered entries and will notify successful applicants shortly," the organization said in a statement on its website.

However, the Legacy of War Foundation reported that there was a problem with illegal registration. Thus, the organization received more than 1 million requests for registration. Among them were at least 3,500 hacker attacks from Russian IP addresses.

Banksy also explained why he chose the Legacy of War Foundation for collaboration. He said that he saw the work of the foundation's representatives in Ukraine: they provided medical aid, heaters, clean water and support to victims of missile attacks. Artist also added that the foundation's team lent him one of its ambulances for work “which turned out to be extremely useful when an angry babushka found me painting on her building and called the police.”

“I feel the least I should do is raise enough money to replace the number plates on the ambulances I hotted up,” Banksy said.

Proceeds from sales will be used to purchase new ambulances and support vehicles, which will be used to rescue people with disabilities, the elderly and other civilians.

They also plan to send generators, gas heaters and solar lights to those facing harsh winter without electricity, according to Legacy of War Foundation CEO Giles Duley. In addition, the fund will be able to continue supporting shelters for women and the LGBTQ community in Kyiv.