UA fleece jacket has panicked the counters at the great collection of British donations, in the form of an auction, for the benefit of Ukraine. A jacket, yes, but not just any jacket. It was owned, worn, and even signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The bidding soared to 90,000 pounds sterling, or nearly 105,000 euros, reports CNN. The event, organized by the Ukrainian Embassy in the United Kingdom, took place on Thursday 5 May. Boris Johnson spoke there. Volodymyr Zelensky too.
The objective of this auction was, in the first place, to raise funds to support Ukraine (the donations should be used mainly to re-equip a children’s hospital in western Ukraine). But, during this evening, the organizers also wanted to “tell the stories of bravery of these Ukrainians who became iconic during the war”, explained the embassy on Twitter. Hence the fleece jacket.
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Volodymyr Zelensky addressed a few words to the audience, gathered at the Tate Modern gallery in London, before British Prime Minister Boris Johnson took over. “It is an honor to speak after my friend Volodymyr Zelensky, one of the greatest leaders of modern times,” he said, before castigating Russia. Boris Johnson also said he was “more certain than ever” that Ukraine was going to win this war.
Max Levine, Ukrainian photographer killed during the war, honored
During this charity evening, other objects representing the bravery of the Ukrainian people and the solidarity on the ground were also put at price. Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska donated toys, which were auctioned off.
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The collection of objects also included photos of photographer Max Levine, killed in Ukraine while covering the fighting near kyiv as a photojournalist and trying to document them. In early April, Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded him a distinction representing courage. The Ukrainian president presented the medal to the mother of the deceased photographer.