SQUATTERS have taken over a Russian billionaire’s £15million mansion in one of Britain’s most exclusive streets.
The group are believed to have broken into the Grade II listed home in London’s Eaton Square earlier this week.
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Squatters broke into £15million mansion in London earlier this week and say they intend to turn it into a homeless shelterCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Group of squatters unpack their belonging in the impressive entrance hall of the multi-million pound homeCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Squatter Jed enjoys a light-hearted moment while he settles into his new 15,000 square foot residence
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Group of squatters celebrate their occupation of home that belongs to wealthy Russian oligarchCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A flag belonging to an Anti-fascist network now flies outside the property that is owned by a Russian oligarchCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Squatters Tom Fox alongside colleague Jed address the media from inside multi-million pound mansion they have occupiedCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Incredible images from inside the mansion - thought to have been empty ever since oligarch Andrey Goncharenko bought it in 2014 - show the squatters have made themselves right at home.
Squatter Tom Fox, 23, said they plan to open up the huge Belgravia house, which used to be a Spanish school, as a homeless shelter, adding that Goncharenko had left the house "to rot" since he bought it.
He said: "We've said jokingly if the owner gives us £50,000, we'll leave.
"It's just making a point about fighting capitalism with capitalism.
"I don't think I'd want to sit down and have a discussion with him - I don't know him, but I don't think we'd agree on things.
"As a professional squatter, we can easily identify buildings to occupy and this was one - it's clearly empty and had dusty windows.
"It wasn't particularly politically aimed to start with - I just thought it was funny because he's rich - but he's just left this major investment to rot.
"It's stale assets, stale money - if he has plans to renovate, why can't he let the homeless stay in the meantime?"
Above the front door is a small banner which reads "USA ANTI-GOVERNMENT IN EXILE".
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The house, built in 1829, has had planning permission since September, but no work has been started on the palatial home.Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Squatter Jed has a kick-about in one the rooms in property that was set to undergo extensive renovationsCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Squatter Tom (right) suspects he wouldn't get on with multi-millionaire Goncharenko if the two metCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Above the front door is a small banner which reads “USA ANTI-GOVERNMENT IN EXILE”Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Property is one of four purchased by oligarch Goncharenko over a three-year periodCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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And interior view of the property shows a tiled floor and staircaseCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
And from one of the flag poles is a black flag with the words "Antifaschistische Aktion" - an Anti fascist network from continental Europe.
The house is one of four purchased by the billionaire over a three-year period, including Hanover Lodge, in exclusive Regent's Park, for which he paid £120million making it one of the UK's most expensive homes.
The house, built in 1829, has had planning permission since September, but no work has been started on the palatial home.
The billionaire had hoped to build a mega-basement complete with swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gym, jacuzzi and massage room.
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Pair of squatters are pictured in kitchen with washing up drying on the draining boardCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Jed pauses for a moment on staircase that sweeps up through propertyCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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The lavish property used to house a Spanish school but it is believed to have been unoccupied since it was bought three years agoCredit: Wikipedia
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Elaborate wood panelling covers the walls in one of the rooms of the home that has now been occupied by squattersCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A staircase stretches for four storeys in the Eaton Square mansionCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Squatter Jed takes a break from dismantling the capitalist machine as he stretches out on his bed in his new multi-million pound home
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Jed enjoys the views from a balcony in the Eaton Place property he has occupied along with colleaguesCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Plans for the rest of the 15,000 square foot home include two huge reception rooms, a playroom and six bedrooms - with the sprawling master suite across the second floor including his and hers living rooms, dressing rooms and bathrooms.
Much of the house is currently designed as office space, as the building was previously used as a Spanish cultural centre.
The whole first floor is a library, with the second floor as classrooms and the third and fourth used as offices.
Tom says in the meantime, the Belgravia home should be used to house the homeless.
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Cardboard is laid out on the floor in a room decorated in wood panellingCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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An room stands empty in million pound squat that is set to welcome homeless people form the local areaCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Shutters remain closed in another room in the property owned by a Russian oligarchCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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An ornament of a parrot sits on the mantelpiece in a room in the Eaton Square mansionCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Bedding and a single slipper lie piled in a corner of a room that is painted whiteCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A set of shelves houses toilet rolls, shoes and a bin bagCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A spectacular staircase provides a sense of the grandeur of the property near Victoria, LondonCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Despite the home having been empty for two years, the squatters have now been served with a court date, before bailiffs try and force the group out by February 10.
Tom said: "We've got a court date on February 7 and the likelihood is we'll have three days before they try and eject us.
"Squatting should be legalised - why don't they open up vacant, habitable buildings and assign volunteers to keep watch and look after homes?”
