Riot police have removed squatters from the $32 million 'crash pad' of a Russian oligarch, who took over the property so it could be used to "house Ukrainian refugees". <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10610307/Squatters-invade-25million-Knightsbridge-mansion-Russian-oligarch-Oleg-Deripaska.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MailOnline</a> says that at least five activists broke into the grand London home - which is reportedly owned by the family of oil tycoon Oleg Deripaska - one of seven oligarchs hit by sanctions by the UK government. As well as taking control of the property, the squatters also displayed a Ukrainian flag and put up a banner reading: "The property has been liberated". They vowed to stay until President Vladimir Putin ended his invasion. However, London police cut short their demonstration when - around noon the following day - they approached the house wearing helmets and safety harnesses to remove the protestors. <img class="wp-image-1263148004 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/03/belgravia-1.jpg" alt="" width="1535" height="799" />[[imagecaption|| Vuk Valcic / Alamy]] With the help of a ladder and a JCB cherry picker, officers tried to access the mansion's first-floor balcony. The squatters - who referred to themselves as the London Mahknovists - did their best to fight back, constructing a barricade out of potted plants while allegedly shouting "go away you losers" and "you fascist scumbags". At other times during their occupation of the building, the protestors sang "I've had the time of my life" from the movie Dirty Dancing, shared drinks from a single glass, and shouted to the next-door house: "We are your new neighbors. We'll come around tomorrow with some brisket." The name 'The London Mahknovists' refers to Nestor Makhno, who tried to form a stateless society in Ukraine during the Russian Revolution of 1917-1923. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/_IainMartin/status/1503375545693884428]] Speaking to reporters about why they had occupied the oligarch's mansion, one protestor said, per <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10610307/Squatters-invade-25million-Knightsbridge-mansion-Russian-oligarch-Oleg-Deripaska.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MailOnline</a>: "We are using our human rights to protest. We are here to protest the property of a Russian oligarch and a war mongerer. This government are not only acting illegally, they are acting immorally. This property belongs to Ukrainian refugees." He added that: "We have opened the building to house Ukrainian refugees and refugees from all nations [...] This home belongs to Ukrainian refugees. There are families dying. Their land has gone. This is the least we can do." In the end, the protestors were no match for police officers who eventually used a drill to break open the front door and removed them from the property. If you would like to know how you can support the Ukrainian people at this time, click <a href="https://vt.co/news/world/heres-how-you-can-support-those-affected-by-the-ongoing-crisis-in-ukraine">HERE</a> to find a list of organizations and groups dedicated to helping those affected by this crisis. <h6>Featured Image Credit: Vuk Valcic / Alamy</h6>

Squatters move into $32 million home reportedly owned by Russian Oligarch

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