The UK government has warned it is prepared to take legal action against former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to ensure the £2.5 billion from the club’s sale is used to support humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
The funds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the 2022 sale of the club, which followed sanctions placed on Abramovich after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
While the government insists the money should be directed specifically to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, Abramovich has maintained that the funds should go to “all victims of the war”—including those in Russia.
In a joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said, “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.” They emphasized the urgency of getting the funds to those affected by the conflict, stating, “We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement with Mr Abramovich so far.”
The disagreement has stalled the release of the funds for over two years, with UK officials and Abramovich’s legal team unable to find common ground on how the money should be distributed.
Though Abramovich was granted a special licence to sell Chelsea, it was conditional on him not profiting from the deal—a stipulation that remains under close scrutiny.
Despite being under sanctions and unable to access the proceeds, Abramovich technically still owns the money. When announcing the sale, he pledged the funds would benefit “all victims of the war in Ukraine,” including those within Russia, a position the UK government has firmly opposed.
A House of Lords committee last year described the ongoing impasse as “incomprehensible” and criticized both parties, noting that the failure to finalize the donation reflects poorly on Abramovich and the government alike.
The UK remains adamant that the money be used solely for Ukrainian humanitarian causes and is now prepared to escalate the matter through the courts if a settlement cannot be reached.
