Squatters have taken over a London mansion belonging to a Russian oligarch, draping flags from the windows claiming "this property has been liberated" as riot police force their way in.
The 7-bedroom mansion belonging to "Putin war-supporter" Oleg Deripaska in Belgrave Square was pictured this morning with Ukraine flags, and signs hanging from the doorway with police cars surrounding it.
Riot police used a drill to break open the front door of Deripaska's mansion and enter the property as the protesters shouted: "Criminal damage" from the balcony above.
A Twitter account under the name "Resist London" shared the image, explaining that the squatters were using a certain piece of protest legislation to hold the property on a rotation.
In a series of tweets, it said: "Squatters in London have occupied a Russion Oligarchs mansion - 5 Belgrave Square.
"Cops have maintained a presence outside, and support is welcomed.
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"Oligarch in question - Oleg Deripaska - war supporter, one of the sanctioned oligarchs.
"'One of the most favorite Putin's oligarchs' as he called himself not that long time before the war.
"F*** him. His property is in process of liberation and it belongs to Ukrainian refugees!
"The squatters are using a version of the Section 6 notice known as the "protest defense", in which they do not intend to live and sleep at the property, but are instead occupying it as a protest, on rotation.
"This is because of the 2012 law change on residential property."
Earlier this morning, the Met Police said: "We are attending a residential property in Belgrave Square, SW1, after being called shortly after 01:00hrs today Monday, 14 March. We have made contact with a small number of people inside.
"Specialist officers are at the scene and are considering the appropriate next steps.
"These will be within legislation, taking into account the safety of officers and those inside and considering the large and complex nature of this property."
The street has also been cordoned off with at least 10 police vehicles and at least 32 officers visible on the scene.
The Metropolitan Police said the number of officers was part of a "flexible and proportionate response".
One of the men occupying the building told reporters from the mansion balcony: "The police have told us multiple times they will enter the building and remove us despite the fact that they have no legal right to do so.
"We are occupying the building as part of a protest.
"We do not care if we are arrested."
Earlier this month, Forbes reported that British property records showed Oleg Deripaska to be the owner of 5 Belgrave Square which sits between South Kensington and Westminster.
In 2002 it was the most expensive terraced property in the world, available to buy for an eye-watering £25 million.
Deripaska was reported to have purchased the property for a price in that region in April 2003 by MailOnline, who claimed that the oligarch used it as his London 'crash pad' in their 2008 article.
The property's value now is not known.
The six-storey 19th century mansion has been called 'home' by the Duke of Bedford, Earl of Essex and Earl Grey since its completion in 1847.
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After modern refurbishments it now also boasts a gym, home cinema and Turkish steam bath.
The exact value of the property today is unclear, but after a huge five-year 'top to toe' renovation in 2018, Xavio Design of Mayfair revealed that a nearby property in Belgrave Square was on the market for £125 million.
According to Forbes, Deripaska owns a catalogue of other luxury properties around the world including homes in Paris, Saint-Tropez, Sardinia, New York, Washington D.C, and Surrey, UK.
The total worth of the portfolio is estimated to be $140 million.
Belgrave Square was dubbed "oligarch quarter" in London, thanks to its overwhelming Russian ownership.
A further statement was released by the now occupiers claiming "we are anarchists, we occupy this property in protest against Putin and his world"
It read: "Do we need to remind you why Putin sucks? The invasion of Ukraine is only the latest episode in a long series, from support of Assad in Syria to concentration camps for LGBT+ people, ecocides, massive wealth inequality, brutal repression of political opponents, and so on.
"By occupying this mansion, we want to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but also the people of Russia who never agreed to this madness.
"As always with wars empires, empires benefit and common people pay the price.
"We want to show our sympathy to the brave protesters who have been fighting in the belly of the beast, and suffer unjust imprisonment for standing up to Putin.
"We say with you: Putin, go f*** yourself.
"Finally, we want to say a word about the elites here in the UK, who have been Putin's minions for years. You received bribes, you managed oligarchs' assets, you even adopted Putin's authoritarian attitude to protest and dissent.
"F*** you too."
