Roman Abramovich's billionaire friend is among the latest Russian oligarchs to be slapped with Western sanctions

• Eugene Shvidler has been sanctioned by the UK government.
• Oil tycoon Shvidler is a close friend of the already sanctioned Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Eugene Shvidler, a billionaire oil tycoon and friend of Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich, is among the latest Russian oligarchs to be sanctioned by the UK government.

Abramovich, 55, had his assets frozen and was given a travel ban by the government on March 10 as part of its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced sanctions against a range of key industries and individuals aiding Russia's invasion, including Shvidler.

The 58-year-old partnered with Abramovich to gain control of oil giant Sibneft via an auction in 1995 which, according to the Irish Independent, is "suspect of having been rigged."

In 2005, Gazprom acquired 75.7% of Sibneft's shares from Abramovich's investment and asset management company Millhouse LLC, of which Shvidler remains the chairman.

Today, he is believed to have a net worth $1.6 billion.

"These oligarchs, businesses and hired thugs are complicit in the murder of innocent civilians and it is right that they pay the price," said Truss.

"[Vladimir] Putin should be under no illusions — we are united with our allies and will keep tightening the screw on the Russian economy to help ensure he fails in Ukraine. There will be no let-up.

"All those sanctioned today will have their assets in the UK frozen which means no UK citizen or company can do business with them, and individuals subject to travel bans are also prohibited from travelling to or from the UK."

Abramovich, who has close ties to Putin, put Chelsea up for sale following the invasion of Ukraine, however the sale hit a roadblock when his assets were frozen.

The UK government has said it remains open to Abramovich selling the club so long as he does not profit, but is yet to grant a special license for any deal to go ahead.