Over the last few weeks, Russia's economy — and the nation's oligarchs — have taken huge hits thanks to sanctions following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. But what exactly is a Russian oligarch? Who are these powerful people and why are sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin's allies? On this Connect the Dots, we explain how the oligarchs rose to power in Russia, why their allegiance to Vladimir Putin makes them richer by the day and the impact economic sanctions are having on Russia's ultra-wealthy ruling class. Let's connect the dots. Power & money What exactly is an oligarch? By definition, an oligarch is a member of a small group of people who have control of a country, organization or institution, usually through a massive amount of wealth. Russian billionaires In Russia, there are about 35 billionaires who have profited from their association with Putin. They rose to power back in the '90s when the Soviet Union collapsed by buying government-run institutions and becoming multibillionaires. As long as they remain loyal to Putin, their rich lifestyle only gets richer. U.S. going after oligarchs But Putin's invasion of Ukraine is threatening that lavish lifestyle. So far, sanctions from the United States and European Union have cost oligarchs over $80 billion. These Russian elites also own property in the U.S. and other European countries, but now, the Justice Department has launched a task force to go after their assets, dealing another blow to Putin's strongest allies. #Russia #Ukraine #WakeUpCLT READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/who-are-russian-oligarchs-ukraine-invasion-economic-sanctions/275-7a446fed-454c-4aae-a652-55df615adb01