Putin's Oil Heist

There's a direct line from a corporate boardroom in early 2000s Moscow to the battlefields of Ukraine, and it runs through the dismantling of Russia's largest oil company. Putin's Oil Heist, hosted by author and investigative journalist Loren Steffy, uncovers that crucial origin story. This six-part documentary series delves into the shocking state-sponsored theft of Yukos Oil, a pivotal event that reshaped Russia's economy and consolidated power. Through the firsthand account of Bruce Misamore, the company's former chief financial officer, listeners are placed inside the room as a seemingly successful, western-style enterprise is systematically seized. Steffy guides us through a complex tale of oligarchs, political machinations, and raw ambition, revealing how the takeover was far more than a business dispute-it was a blueprint for a new kind of authoritarian capitalism. Each episode of this podcast builds a gripping narrative, showing how the crushing of Yukos fueled a regime's wealth and ambition, with consequences that continue to reverberate globally. For anyone following modern geopolitics or business, this series provides essential, often overlooked context, moving beyond headlines to explain how asset theft on a staggering scale can alter the course of history.