Britain's Prime Minister Has Warned Russian Oligarch Abramovich

• 17.12.2025, 17:47

He was threatened with a lawsuit.

Under-sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is facing legal action if he does not send Ukraine the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea soccer club. We are talking about 2.5 billion pounds, or about 3.09 billion dollars.

This was announced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose words are quoted by The Guardian.

London intends to issue official instructions to transfer the money received from the Chelsea deal to Ukraine's humanitarian needs. Starmer stressed that this is the last chance for Abramovich to fulfill his commitments - otherwise the authorities are ready to go to court.

"My message to Abramovich is this: time is running out, fulfill your commitment and pay now. If you don't, we are prepared to go to court to ensure that every penny goes to those whose lives have been ruined by Putin's illegal war," the British prime minister said.

Abramovich announced his intention to sell Chelsea in early March 2022 and completed the deal in May, realizing $5.4 billion for the club. At that time, he proposed the creation of a charitable fund, which would receive all net proceeds from the sale and was planned to be used to help victims of the war in Ukraine.

The British government granted the billionaire a license to sell Chelsea on the condition that the funds would be used to support victims of the war in Ukraine.

The money from the deal currently remains frozen in the bank account of Fordstam Ltd, Abramovich's former Chelsea parent company.