Shocking claim about Russian elite: See how much billionaires have earned since the war began

Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and significant Russian military losses, the wealth of Russian billionaires has surged by 97 percent since the conflict began, accumulating an additional $68.6 billion for Putin's inner circle. This stark paradox is analyzed by experts David Satter and Jason Jay Smart, who view contemporary Russia as a dangerous hybrid regime merging the worst aspects of organized crime with a communist disregard for human life.

“

During the 1990s, people were starving and not receiving salaries. The people considered oligarchs at that time were unrestrained in their theft. They stole even the last sums of money that were set aside for paying workers' basic needs because it was available for theft. What happened to ordinary people did not interest the oligarchs. The same thing is happening now. Putin and his associates do not see the soldiers dying as people. They see them as units, objects that can be used for their purposes.

David Satter draws a parallel between the current Russian elite and the mafia, noting a crucial difference: "Russian criminals are shaped by Soviet culture, which defined people as raw material for a larger social goal." He observes that the elite's primary concerns are financial gain and the exercise of power, rather than the well-being of soldiers or ordinary citizens. "What happened to ordinary people did not interest the oligarchs. The same thing is happening now. Putin and his associates do not see the soldiers dying as people. They see them as units, objects that can be used for their purposes," Satter stated.

“

The only thing that truly interests them is money and the execution of power.

Satter suggests that the elite's fear of potential repercussions from a pivot toward the West prevents them from seeking peace. Instead, they focus on "squeezing the population even more." Actions such as closing popular Telegram channels and restricting money transfers are interpreted as preparations for mass repression, a new round of forced mobilization, or even a wave of terror.

“

Russian criminals are shaped by Soviet culture, which defined people as raw material for a larger social goal.

Reflecting on Russian identity, Satter notes a national sense of grandeur, often reinforced by emphasizing the victory in World War II. This is coupled with a tendency towards submission to authority, political passivity, and brutality towards dissenters. He concludes that Russia lacks a balance between state and individual rights, where the government can disregard laws at will, reducing citizens to a "herd that is easily mobilized." Satter characterizes Russia as a nation with a "movement mentality," constantly needing to "create something great to dominate," making it a perpetual threat driven by any criminal group in power.

“

They are afraid that such a turn would put them in danger. That is why they are thinking about how to squeeze the population even more.