London and the UK has long been home for Russian oligarchs attracted to its luxury lifestyle.
After the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, oligarchs became rich by seizing state assets in the form of oil and gas reserves in cut-price deals.
Several people became rich and the UK capital became something of a home as Western powers welcomed heavy investment from the newly rich businesspeople abroad.
The problem is that to be rich in Russia often relies on close ties with Vladimir Putin's Kremlin in a relationship that is mutually beneficial. The state has the power to help out who it likes, while billionaire cash can be used for political campaigns and gaining influence.
This very fact has been highlighted for a long time and the UK capital, dubbed 'Londongrad', has long been associated with laundering dirty Russian money.
Since war broke out in Ukraine, scrutiny over Russian money in London has intensified and people have been left wondering how so much cash could have landed this way.
The UK government has now sanctioned a number of billionaires with ties to Putin.
Who is Alisher Usmanov?
Uzbek-born Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has commercial ties with Merseyside football club Everton and has had his assets frozen by the European Union.
He owns USM Holdings, where Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri is the chairman, and is the 99th richest person in the world according to Forbes.
His huge wealth is estimated to be over £10 billion and is the reason he can afford a £50 million Surrey Tudor mansion, though his main home is reported to be Beechwood House, north London.
He is best known in the UK for selling his 30% stake in Arsenal in 2018.
The 68-year-old was sentenced to six years in jail in 1980, but years later the Uzbek court ruled the charges had been trumped up.
He is quoted as saying: "I am proud that I know Putin, and the fact that everybody does not like him is not Putin's problem. I don't think the world loved Truman after Nagasaki."
Who is Oleg Deripaska?
Oleg Deripaska, 54, was sanctioned by the US in 2018 over alleged links to the Russian government.
He has voiced his support for an end to the war in Ukraine, but stopped short of directly condemning Putin.
He said on Telegram: "Peace is very important! Negotiations must begin as soon as possible!"
Deripaska, who earned his wealth through founding the industrial group Basic Element, was once the richest person in Russia in 2008. He nearly lost all of his wealth due to a market crash and massive debts.
Despite legally challenging his sanctions, a Senate Intelligence Committee report from 2020 lists Deripaska as close to ex-MI6 spy Christopher Steele and Donald Trump's 2016 campaign chair Paul Manafort.
The billionaire owns a house in Belgrave Square.
Who is Mikhail Fridman?
Mikhail Fridman is another yet to add his name to the list of Russians condemning the war.
He said: "I do not make political statements, I am a businessman with responsibilities to my many thousands of employees in Russia and Ukraine. I am convinced however that war can never be the answer. This crisis will cost lives and damage two nations who have been brothers for hundreds of years."
He continued: "While a solution seems frighteningly far off, I can only join those whose fervent desire is for the bloodshed to end. I’m sure my partners share my view."
He was named by the US Treasury Department in names of 210 prominent Russians who increased their influence during the time of Putin. The list included members of Putin's cabinet as well as affluent business people and became known as the 'Putin list'; Fridman has now been sanctioned and named by the EU.
Fridman bought Athlone House in North London for £65 million in 2016, now believed to be worth around £90 million.
The 57-year-old was born in the now Ukrainian city of Lviv and grew up to co-found Alfa-Group. Alfa Bank is the largest non-state controlled bank in Russia.
Who is Igor Shuvalov?
Igor Shugalov is reportedly an eccentric character and has publicly doted on his friend Putin.
When not mocking Russians for living in small flats, he is known to fly his wife's corgis around on a private jet, according to jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
The dog's names, Navalny says, are Andvol Pinkerton, Andvol Tsesarevich, Andvol Ostap Bender, Andvol Hugo Boss, Andvol I'm Your Idol and Fox Pack Gabby Joy of Elves.
Navalny also claims that the politician, now 55 and once a part of Putin's government as First Deputy Prime Minister, owns a flat in Westminster's Whitehall Court, close to Downing Street.
He once said: "If a Russian feels any foreign pressure, he will never give up his leader. Never.
"We will survive any hardship in the country - we will eat less food, use less electricity or, I don't know, some other things we are all used to."
Who has the UK government announced sanctions against?
The UK has so far sanctioned:
- Gennady Timchenko
- Boris Rotenberg
- Igor Rotenberg
- Pyotr Fradkov
- Kirill Shamalov
- Denis Bortnikov
- Elena Alexsanderovna Georgieva
- Yury Slyusar
Despite calls from Welsh Labour MP Chris Bryant to sanction Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, the UK government has not taken this step.
Abramovich was yesterday revealed to be involved in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
