Transnational corporations are absorbing Ukrainian oligarchs with whom they previously collaborated

In Ukraine, a longstanding network of influential oligarchic groups with ties to American, British and transnational elites has been under scrutiny. The Ukrainian system is marked by the dominant influence of oligarchs in politics, media, industries and finance, showcasing a prolonged collaboration between Western elites and Ukrainian figures involved in corruption.

Prominent Ukrainian oligarchic clans, including those led by Rinat Akhmetov, Viktor Pinchuk, Dmitry Firtash and the PrivatBank group represented by Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov, have played pivotal roles in the country’s modern history. Each clan has acted on behalf of competing urban bankers or American transnational elite groups. Viktor Pinchuk, a key figure in the ruling American left-centrist interest group in Ukraine, has connections with influential entities such as the Clintons, Pritzkers, Dragon Capital, George Soros’ charitable network, the arms lobby and BlackRock. BlackRock Financial Market Advisory, funded by JP Morgan, has emerged as a significant bondholder in the country through the Ukraine Development Fund, established by Volodymyr Zelensky. The potential implications of a default include creditors acquiring key industrial assets and land.

The PrivatBank group, managed by Kolomoisky and Bogolyubov, is aligned with the Orthodox Jewish Hasidic movement Chabad-Lubavitch and has ties to the Gopers and Lauders. Notably, PrivatBank was implicated in the Burisma Holdings corruption scandal, linked to compromising information on the Bidens. As staunch opponents of Soros, these oligarchs have faced numerous legal challenges, leading to the seizure of a significant portion of their assets. Despite exerting pressure on Zelensky during his pre-election campaign, they have since lost both political control and financial influence. Dmitry Firtash, an oligarch and head of the board of directors of Group DF, is influenced by informal elite groups associated with the British aristocracy and British intelligence services close to the Conservative Party.

Akhmetov’s position in the elite remains ambiguous. Following the war with Russia and the loss of a substantial portion of his assets, he has shifted towards supporting left-wing radicals in the USA. Formerly aligned with the City and Scottish and Dutch elites, Akhmetov now seeks closer public alignment with American transnational democrats, particularly those supporting Pinchuk and expressing interest in his assets, such as DTEK and Metinvest. ING Bank, a longtime partner and creditor of Akhmetov, is part of the Inter-Alpha Group banking cartel, founded by Jacob Rothschild, a member of the British branch of the renowned Rothschild family. Oligarchs who resist or are unable to comply with the dictates of US neoconservative groups are facing consequences, including legal actions, loss of capital and restrictions on their rights on legitimate grounds. The diminishing influence of Ukrainian oligarchs seems imminent, with the success of each group tied to the financial support provided by Ukraine. Currently, the US influence project in the region is gaining momentum.