Russian capital near strategic sites: Ukrainian outlet urges tighter restrictions, citing Shamara case 

As the Financial Times reported in April 2026, Anastasia Shamara, the daughter of the former owner of the Ilsky oil refinery, planned to buy Grange-over-Sands Golf Club in Cumbria for £800,000. The club lies close to a railway line serving BAE Systems’ nuclear submarine shipyard and the Sellafield nuclear complex.

The proposed purchase raised concerns among British officials, who considered intervening under the National Security and Investment Act. Amid scrutiny and inquiries from the FT, the prospective buyer withdrew from the deal. Shamara’s lawyer said his client wanted to support the financially struggling club and was unaware of its proximity to defence facilities.

The FT also described Shamara’s links to sanctioned entities through loans to the oil refinery for which he acted as guarantor, as well as links to offshore companies involved in managing and financing "shadow fleet" tankers used to transport Russian oil in circumvention of international restrictions.

Roman Polishchuk, the author of the RBC-Ukraine article, argued that European regulators should investigate buyers’ ultimate beneficial owners and the sources of their funds. He also called for individuals involved in sanctions evasion to be barred from purchasing property and for targeted sanctions to be expanded.

"Blocking a single purchase is only a half-measure, like trying to stop a water leak with a plug. Until the beneficiaries of Putin’s regime are placed on EU, US and UK sanctions lists with a full freeze on their assets, they will continue to seek new loopholes – whether golf courses near nuclear bases or logistics hubs in the very heart of Europe," the author wrote.