Squatters briefly seize London mansion linked to Russian oligarch and plot to settle Ukrainian refug

Police have arrested eight activists who broke into the property, which was used to house Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.
#Squattersbriefly #occupyLondon #mansionlinked
In an upscale area of ​​London surrounded by numerous foreign embassies, a large flag can be seen flying from the balcony of a mansion that reads "This property has been liberated".

The gist: The owner of the house is a Russian billionaire sanctioned by the British government

The house belonged to a Russian billionaire sanctioned by the British government. In France, protesters break into mansion owned by former son-in-law of Russian President Vladimir Putin

In France, protesters broke into a mansion owned by the former son-in-law of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thousands take to the streets of Russia and Europe to protest the ongoing war in Ukraine

A multimillion-dollar mansion linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska was briefly seized by a group of squatters overnight.

They say they want to retake the property in Belgrave Square in central London to house Ukrainian refugees.

"You occupy Ukraine, we occupy you," the squatter, who describes himself as an anarchist, said in a statement.

"By occupying this villa, we hope to show our solidarity with the Ukrainian people, but also with the Russian people who have never consented to this madness."

After a long pause, police in riot gear smashed the front door with a drill and used a crane to reach the shantytown sitting on the side of the building.

Eight people were arrested.

It took police hours to remove the squatters from their villas in an exclusive area of ​​London. (: Peter Nichols)

Britain last week froze the assets of Mr Deripaska, one of several Russian oligarchs targeted after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Mr Deripaska owns a stake in the energy company En+ Group, which owns one of the world's largest aluminium producers.

He is worth an estimated $3.6 billion, according to the UK government, and has a multimillion-pound property portfolio in the UK.

Activists have criticised it could take a long time for Britain to impose sanctions on those whom the government has identified as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle.

"They said it could take up to six months for their property to be seized. Come on, it's ridiculous," one person said.

Britain has sanctioned about 20 Russian oligarchs, including Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, after their properties were frozen in London, barring them from entering the UK.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters after the incident.