Roman Abramovich, Russian oligarch and owner of Chelsea FC has been sanctioned by U.K. authorities in the wake of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich, said to be a longtime ally of President Vladimir Putin, was among seven Russian businessmen added by UK government to its sanctions list as it ramps up pressure on the pariah state over its invasion of Ukraine.
The new list includes further members of Putin’s inner circle, such as Oleg Deripaska, Dmitri Lebedev and Igor Sechin.
All seven men will see their assets frozen and travel restricted.
“There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
The crackdown follows Ambramovich’s announcement last week that he would sell his prized Chelsea soccer club, alongside a string of luxury London properties, as he embarked on a fire sale of his U.K. assets.
Following the sanctions announcement, the U.K. sports ministry said it would work closely with the club and wider football league to ensure matches could continue being played.
“The license will be kept under constant review and we will work closely with the football authorities,” a government spokesperson said.
There have been growing calls from British lawmakers to target Abramovich, who until now had avoided the sanctions faced by some of his peers even as he publicly shed several of his most valuable ties to the U.K.
Johnson said Thursday’s move demonstrated the government’s commitment to pressuring those with ties to the Kremlin as the bloody war enters its second week.
“Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the U.K.’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies,” he said.
