Oligarch's £5 million mansion occupied by squatters flying Ukrainian flag from a window

An oligarch's £5 million central London mansion has been occupied by squatters who are flying a Ukrainian flag and anti-Putin banners from the windows.

The palatial property in exclusive Belgravia belongs to the family of Oleg Deripaska, one of seven oligarchs sanctioned by the UK Government last week

Activists broke into 5 Belgrave Square in the early hours of this morning [mon] before hanging Ukrainian flags and banners.

One banner read 'The property has been liberated' while another stated 'Putin go f**k yourself.'

The group occupying the property are calling themselves the London Makhnovists, referencing the Ukrainian anarchist Nestor Makhno.

They vowed not to leave until the war is over.

Makhno was the commander of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine.

One of the squatters, who appeared to be in his early 20s, said: "There was no forceful entry whatsoever. We are using our human rights to protest.

"We are here to protest the property of a Russian oligarch and a warmonger.

"This government are not only acting illegally, they are acting immorally.

"This property belongs to Ukrainian refugees."

Another man said: "We are planning to stay until Putin stops the war.

"Putin is responsible for people losing their homes and lands. Sanctions are not enough.

"The Government has delayed action - they are playing games."

Belgrave Square houses several Embassies. No 5 was once home of Sir George Murray, the British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies until he died there in 1846, and later housed the Institute of Directors.

A Twitter account called Resist London said: "The squatters are using a version of the Section 6 notice known as the "protest defence", 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."

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were called shortly after 1 am on Monday to a residential property in Belgrave Square.

'Officers attended and found that a number of people had gained entry and hung banners from upstairs windows. Officers remain at the location.'