Oligarchs Against Putin: Interesting Developments Are Unfolding In Russia
- 25.07.2026, 14:37
The Kremlin is running out of money.
Amid constant drone attacks and a deteriorating economic situation, influential circles in Russia are moving their assets out of the country. The oligarchs do not want the war against Ukraine to continue, as they are concerned about their wealth.
This opinion was expressed on “Channel 24” by Andrei Gorodnitsky, a Ph.D. and political expert, who emphasized that more than 150 criminal cases have been opened against oligarchs in Russia (this refers to the possibility of forcibly seizing assets worth substantial sums).
The West and Russia’s oligarchs may have reached an agreement
According to the political expert, Russia’s wealthy realize that, for now, the situation remains such that by supporting the war, they can receive leniency from the state and preferential treatment from the federal budget (trillions of rubles in compensation), and the opportunity to make money—particularly for those in the fuel business. However, according to Gorodnitsky, this situation won’t last long because Russia’s finances are running out.
“The oligarchs understand that today they are in a separate sphere above everyone else. Right now, the authorities are taking money from the Russian people, but that money will be spent quickly; then they’ll come after the oligarchs and take everything they have in the banks, all their assets in the form of factories and ships. Therefore, to preserve these assets, through agreements with Western intelligence agencies (to ensure that money isn’t touched there), they’re moving it out of Russia,” Gorodnitsky stated.
He noted that the West should actually impose sanctions on these funds, since they belong to people who supported Putin and were involved in the war against Ukraine. However, according to the political expert, Europe is not imposing restrictions on these funds. He cited the example of Russian yachts, which were subject to sanctions at the start of the war but today, a significant number of them are freely sailing the seas.
“Our partners are trying, in this way, to curry favor with Russian oligarchs and open a window of opportunity for them. The idea is that they’ll help the oligarchs, and in return, the oligarchs will take action to remove Putin from power. I believe they can do this. Melnichenko’s article points directly to this. He writes that they do not want the military KGB-style regime that currently exists in the country, but rather seek a business-oriented one so that everyone can be happy and wealthy. “But Putin is a product of that very KGB system,” Gorodnitsky concluded.