Boris Johnson on Thursday sanctioned two more Russian oligarchs after mounting criticism over the UK not targeting as many individuals as the European Union.

       Alisher Usmanov, who had recent ties to Everton Football Club and before that Arsenal, and Igor Shuvalov, a former Russian deputy prime minister, were the men sanctioned.

       They are worth a combined $19 billion, according to the Foreign Office, but will now have all their UK assets frozen and be banned from entering the country.

       A new “Oligarch Taskforce” is also being created which will see ministers and officials from four Government departments work with the National Crime Agency.

       The moves come after Mr Johnson and Downing Street officials have been pushed to explain why the EU has sanctioned more Russians than the UK.

       Mr Johnson had been mocked by Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, on Wednesday for not targeting Mr Shuvalov, who, like Mr Usmanov, had already been sanctioned by the EU.

       On Thursday night the US Statement Department went further, imposing visa bans on 19 Russian oligarchs and dozens of their family members and close associates.

       'Starving Putin's war machine'

       The UK and other Western nations have targetted Russians with links to the Kremlin to “ratchet” up economic and political pressure on Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, after his invasion of Ukraine.

       Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, said: “Our message to Putin and his allies has been clear from day one - invading Ukraine would have serious and crippling economic consequences.

       “Sanctioning Usmanov and Shuvalov sends a clear message that we will hit oligarchs and individuals closely associated with the Putin regime and his barbarous war.

       "We won't stop here. Our aim is to cripple the Russian economy and starve Putin's war machine."

       Mr Usmanov is founder of USM Holdings which works in sectors including extractives and telecoms and has a net worth of around $18.4 billion, according to the Foreign Office. Everton cut ties with him after the Ukrainian invasion.

       He also owns Beechwood House in Highgate, worth an estimated ￡48 million, and the 16th century Sutton Place estate in Surrey, according to the Foreign Office.

       Mr Usmanov will not be able to sell or transfer the properties, according to a Foreign Office source, but nor does the Government seize the houses.

       A debate continues to be played out inside the Government about what to do with such assets.

       Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, is pushing for the Government to take them over, possibly for use by Ukrainian refugees, though such a move is legally complex.

       Mr Shuvalov has held numerous positions in the Russian government including first deputy prime minister and government chief of staff, according to the Foreign Office.

       He has also twice worked as an aide to Putin and is chair of the management board of VEB, one of the banks hit with a full asset freeze.

       Sir Keir pushed Mr Johnson on the Commons about him on Wednesday, saying: "Shuvalov owns two flats not five minute’s walk from this House, and they are worth more than ￡11 million.

       "He is on the EU sanctions list, but he is not on the UK sanctions list. When will the Prime Minister sort this out?”

       Meanwhile Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, has said oligarchs will be prevented from using their "deep pockets" to silence critics.

       Lawfare

       The Justice Secretary promised measures - to be announced shortly - that will prevent oligarchs close to Putin from exploiting UK courts and libel laws to sue investigators or journalists who exposed their “excesses”.

       It is expected that he will seek to limit the costs that oligarch’s critics might face from expensive court actions - and which could bankrupt them.

       Speaking during a visit to Britain’s newest prison in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, he also pledged to protect free speech in his proposed new bill of rights, where will be given “extra weight” by being enshrined in law.

       Mr Raab also suggested the UK stood ready to jail Putin for war crimes if it was needed, citing the precedent of Britain imprisoning the Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadic and Liberia’s Charles Taylor.

       He also warned that Britons may have to accept higher energy prices rather than allow the UK to be cowed and blackmailed over gas supplies by Putin.

       The legal actions are known as SLAPPs, strategic lawsuits against publication participation, or lawfare.