<p>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.</p><p>The palatial property in exclusive Belgravia belongs to the family of Oleg Deripaska, one of seven oligarchs sanctioned by the UK Government last week</p><p>Activists broke into 5 Belgrave Square in the early hours of this morning [mon] before hanging Ukrainian flags and banners.</p><p>One banner read 'The property has been liberated' while another stated 'Putin go f**k yourself'.</p><p>The group occupying the property are calling themselves the London Makhnovists, referencing the Ukrainian anarchist Nestor Makhno.</p><p>They vowed not to leave until the war is over.</p><p>Makhno was the commander of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine.</p><p>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.</p><p>"We are here to protest the property of a Russian oligarch and a warmonger.</p><p>"This government are not only acting illegally, they are acting immorally.</p><p>"This property belongs to Ukrainian refugees."</p><p>Another man said: "We are planning to stay until Putin stops the war.</p><p>"Putin is responsible for people losing their homes and lands. Sanctions are not enough.</p><p>"The Government has delayed action - they are playing games."</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>"This is because of the 2012 law change on residential property."</p><p>A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were called shortly after 1 am on Monday to a residential property in Belgrave Square.</p><p>'Officers attended and found that a number of people had gained entry and hung banners from upstairs windows. Officers remain at the location.'</p>
