Allan Prosser: Roman’s reign ends with a scene from Chekhov 

Roman Abramovich arrived in West London in 2003. ALLAN PROSSER has studied him, and reported on his impact, for nearly 20 years. Today, as Chelsea face their last big match of a turbulent season, he reflects on what has happened, and what is to come.

EXIT STAGE LEFT: Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. We won’t know the truth about Abramovich any time soon: a cats-paw to Putin? An intermediary with Zelenskiy? A victim of poisoning?

Back in the day (1814) when Russian troops captured Paris to settle the first war against Napoleon they brought their appetites with them.

The invaders were mainly Cossacks, from, ironically, Ukraine, that country which has never existed according to Vladimir Putin. The Zaporozhian Host was immortalised in a classic book by Nikolai Gogol, Taras Bulba. Much of it was set in Kyiv.