Chelsea owner sanctioned, assets frozen by UK government

Roman Abramovich has had all of his assets frozen by the UK government after being sanctioned for his close ties to Russia president Vladimir Putin – but a sale of Chelsea could still go through in the future if certain conditions are met.

Abramovich is one of seven more Russian oligarchs who have had sanctions placed on them, and they will come into force before he’s able to push through a sale of Chelsea – who he put up for sale last week after nearly 20 years of ownership.

At least 20 interested parties have shown an interest in buying Chelsea, who are at valued by Abramovich at around £3bn, and the 55-year-old has previously said any proceeds from the sale would be donated to “all victims of the war in Ukraine.”

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But a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday morning – delivered off the back of a lengthy dossier that detailed Abramovich’s close links with Putin and called him a “pro-Kremlin oligarch” – said action must be immediately taken against those who have supported the invasion of Ukraine, putting the brakes on a sale going through.

“There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine,” Johnson said.

“Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’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.”

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The UK’s foreign secretary, Liz Truss, added: “Today’s sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society. With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression.