LONDON — Squatters have occupied a London mansion thought to belong to one of the Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the British government.

The property in Belgrave Square — one of London’s most exclusive neighborhoods, located just moments from Buckingham Palace — is said to be owned by billionaire energy mogul Oleg Deripaska, who was sanctioned by authorities last weekConcerning his relations with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The luxury property was taken over by protesters on Monday morning. They draped it in Ukrainian flags, and posted a sign stating “This property has been freed.”

BBC reported that they claimed the group would do the job of the authorities. They have received criticisms for their delay in crackingdown on Putin’s inner circle.

Police in riot gear reportedly entered the propertyTuesday, midday. There were reports that squatters had been on the premises. The exact method by which the protestors gained entry to the property is unknown.

Sky News obtained a statement from the Metropolitan Police stating that they have completed a thorough search of the house and are “satisfied no protestors” were present. They said they were “continuing to engage” in conversations with people who were on the balcony.

The details regarding the ownership of Five Belgrave Square’s historic, multimillion-pound property are not clear. However, High Court documents named DeripaskaSky reports that Sky identified Sky as the beneficial owners more than a decade ago.

According to public records, the house was purchased originally and it is now owned by Ravellot Limited. This offshore company was established in the British Virgin Islands. the BBC has reported.

Five bank accounts of Graham Bonham Carter (the named contact to Ravellot Limited), were subject to asset freeze orders at the National Crime Agency. This is in response to his supposed links with Deripaska.

The NCA released a statement to CNBC, stating that “We can confirm the NCA secured two Account-Freezing Orders for five accounts owned by Mr Graham Bonham Carter.”

The orders were made on the ground that reasonable suspicions exist that money in these accounts may have been derived from laundering funds belonging to Oleg Deripaska, an American subject to US sanctions.

On Thursday, the British government sanctioned Deripaska (founder of EN+, a metals- and hydropower company) and six others. His assets and travel restrictions will be enforced as per the sanctions.

Since 2018, the U.S. has placed sanctions on this tycoon, who’s wealth is derived from Russian state assets being privatized.

Protesters demanded that the 7-bedroom home, with a Turkish bath and home theater, be available for Ukrainian refugees.

This comes just days after Michael Gove, the U.K. Housing Minister, suggested a similar idea to the BBC. He said that he was investigating the possibility of housing migrants living in confiscated properties.

He told BBC that he wanted to look into an option that would permit us to access the properties and homes of sanctioned people for as long they remain sanctioned to do so for humanitarian purposes.