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In a message to Russian oligarchs, the squatters said: “You occupy Ukraine, we occupy you.” Oleg Deripaska wasn’t the only one listening.

By Diane Taylor, The Guardian

Four squatters who have been surrounded by police on the balcony of a central London mansion owned by the oligarch Oleg Deripaska say they have “made their peace with getting arrested”.

The squatters broke into the property in Belgrave Square at about 1am on Monday and declared that it “belongs to Ukrainian refugees”.

Oleg Deripaska’s London mansion

The four men, who initially told reporters there were five of them, were sitting on the edge of the balcony, surrounded by police inside and outside the building. The street was cordoned off and at least 10 police vehicles and dozens of officers were on the scene.

In a message to Russian oligarchs, the squatters said: “You occupy Ukraine, we occupy you.”

This part of London has been nicknamed “oligarchs’ quarter” because so many wealthy Russians have bought properties in the area, a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.

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Militarism and Foreign Policy