Putin’s Corporate Hostages: Why Russia Is Taking Oligarchs’ Firms and Western Businesses

I examine how Putin plans to finance a proposed 17.1 trillion-ruble military budget for 2027—an increase of roughly 27%—while Russia faces a projected 7.3 trillion-ruble deficit, rising taxes, costly borrowing, and treasury yields reaching 16.88%. With military and security spending set to account for 44% of projected spending, the Kremlin is shifting the burden onto households, businesses, and seized property.

I trace the coercive model through the cases of Konstantin Strukov’s gold assets, Vadim Moshkovich and Rusagro, Ilya Traber’s port interests, and the takeover of Makfa. I also look at the temporary management of Metro AG, Nestlé, Auchan, and former Leroy Merlin operations; the 471 billion rubles in supposedly voluntary billionaire contributions; and plans to sell confiscated assets. The strategic question is whether confiscation, debt, and pressure on private capital can sustain Putin’s war—or further hollow out Russia’s economy.

00:00 Russia’s Expanding 2027 War Budget
03:19 Oligarchs, Ports, Farms, and Confiscated Companies
05:46 Housing, Fishing, Wheat, and Economic Decline
10:11 Western Firms as Kremlin Corporate Hostages
12:11 Who Bears the Cost of Putin’s War
15:07 Billionaire Contributions and Confiscated Assets
19:00 Ukraine’s Targeting Choices and Russian Air Defense

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