UK adds two Roman Abramovich ‘business associates’ to Russia sanctions list

Roman Abramovich at a ceremony of an initiative on the safe transport of grain and foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports, in Istanbul, in July. Photograph: Ozan Köse/AFP/Getty Images

Two Russian oligarchs and business partners of Roman Abramovich, whose sprawling wealth was revealed by a Guardian investigation, have been added to the UK government’s sanctions list in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Alexander Abramov and Alexander Frolov, whom the UK government said were “known to be business associates” of the former Chelsea FC owner, were on Wednesday among four new Russian steel and petrochemical tycoons added to the sanctions list.