Russia's aggressive attack on Ukraine continues. Russian President Vladimir Putin's army launched a missile attack near Ukraine's Zaporizhia Nuclear Plant, after which the plant caught fire. Russian troops have intensified airstrikes on several cities in Ukraine. Airstrike alert has been issued in many places including Odisha. Meanwhile, 33 people have died in the airstrike on Chernihiv.
Meanwhile, after Russia attacks Ukraine, Britain's process of tightening the noose on Russian billionaires continues. Britain has announced sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, who have links with two more Russian oligarchs. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has approved these sanctions. The British government said that the two people together have a combined total of £14 billion in wealth in the UK. Both nobles have important interests in Britain and have close ties to the Kremlin and sanctions imposed on them have been approved with immediate effect.
Objective: To weaken the Russian economy
A statement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson shows how serious Britain is about imposing sanctions on Russian nobles and breaking the back of the economy. "As long as Putin continues his barbaric assault on innocent Ukrainians, we will continue to use everything we can to inflict as much economic pain as possible on Putin and his war machine," he said recently.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also reiterated 'we will not stop here. We aim to cripple the Russian economy and starve Putin's war machine.
Who is Usmanov?
Usmanov owns a £60 million house in Surrey and a 16th-century Sutton Place estate.
He owns the Beachwood House in Highgate, which is estimated to be worth £48 million.
He founded the USM Holding Company. It is an investment group that supplies iron, steel, and copper.
He is also the owner of Megafon telecommunications company.
USM Holding Company Usmanov holds a 49 percent stake.
He has business ties with Everton Football Club.
He sponsored Everton's training ground and had the naming rights for Everton's new stadium, to be opened in 2024.
However, on Wednesday, Everton suspended the company's sponsorship arrangement, saying the club was shocked and saddened by the horrific events taking place in Ukraine.
Usmanov's company USM previously also had a sponsorship relationship with Arsenal. But that relationship ended in 2018 when he sold his 30 percent stake. At the time he was the second-largest shareholder in the North London club.
Earlier this week the European Union confiscated Usmanov's assets, saying he belonged to a pro-Kremlin elite with particularly close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Usmanov then issued a statement calling the EU decision 'unfair' and said 'he will use all legal means to protect his honor and reputation'.
Shuvalov how big is a nobleman?
Shuvalov was formerly the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and is currently the chairman of the management board of a Russian bank.
Shuvalov is slightly less well-known in Britain, but the Foreign Office said he owns two luxury apartments in central London worth an estimated £11 million.
He allegedly used a 38 million pound private jet on his wife's dog for a dog show in Europe.
They have always denied doing anything inappropriate or illegal in their business activities.
What about restrictions?
Under the new restrictions of the British government, the assets of these two nobles will be frozen.
No British citizen or business can deal with them.
Both have also been banned from traveling to the UK.
Usmanov's business relationship with Everton Football Club has been suspended.
According to the White House, Usmanov's assets, including his superyacht and his private jet, have been barred from being used by the US and American individuals.
How many have been banned so far?
So far, 15 such sanctions have been imposed on Putin's aides, including Usmanov and Shuvalov.
The assets of Russian businessman Timchenko and the Rotenberg Brothers have been frozen.
Apart from this, Britain has also banned five Russian banks.
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