Putin's Oil Heist

If you want to understand the story behind the story of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, you can draw a straight line back to the Yukos affair. Bruce Misamore was an oil industry exeuctive at the Yukous Oil Company who found himself with a front-row seat to the world’s largest state-sponsored theft. In this thrilling 6-part documentary, Loren Steffy, author and investigative journalist shares the story of Putin's takeover of Yukos, and how it impacted the world, with first-hand accounts from Bruce Misamore.

Episodes

Introducing Putin's Oil Heist

May 12, 2022 • 2 mins

Putin's Oil Heist is 6-part series by Loren Steffy is exporing the Yukos Saga - and traces a direct line from it to Russia's invasion of Ukraine this year. Bruce Misamore, a former Yukos Oil executive, shares his experience being on the front lines of the worlds largest state-sponsored theft.

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Episode 1: Putin’s Plan

June 1, 2022 • 13 mins

Putin's Oil Heist Episode 1: Putin’s Plan “If you want to understand the story behind the story of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, you can draw a straight line back to the Yukos Affair.” The demise of Yukos, Russia’s second-biggest oil company, marked the first time that Vladimir Putin tested the West, watching to see how the West would respond to the seizing of the company’s assets, Bruce Misamore says. Putin’s Oil Heist is an ins...

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Episode 2: The Arrest

June 8, 2022 • 16 mins

In the early 2000s, Bruce Misamore moved to Moscow to work for Mikhail Khodorkovsky at Yukos. Yukos was growing rapidly, but Russian President Vladimir Putin wasn’t pleased with the growing influence of Westerners at Russian companies. Putin saw threats to his power everywhere, and the government passed legislation limiting foreign investment. Misamore found himself in the middle of a hurricane. Join Loren Steffy and Bruce Misamore...

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Episode 3: The Theft of Yukos

June 15, 2022 • 13 mins

“We really didn't have much of a choice, as one of the largest oil companies in the world, other than continuing to run it and implement our strategies.” Yukos was left reeling after their CEO was arrested. Putin’s Oil Heist is an insider’s account of the Yukos Affair. In this episode, host Loren Steffy follows up on the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the theft of Yukos with first-person accounts from Bruce Misamore, former Chi...

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Episode 4: Fleeing Russia

June 22, 2022 • 17 mins

“These were professional thugs that had been hired by the KGB, known as the FSB in Russia today, but they're still the KGB.” Even though he’d fled the country, Bruce Misamore couldn’t seem to escape Russia’s reach. Putin’s Oil Heist is an insider’s account of the Yukos Affair. In this episode, host Loren Steffy describes Misamore’s swift exit from Russia and its consequences, with first-person accounts from the former Yukos chief f...

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Episode 5: Fighting From Afar

June 29, 2022 • 14 mins

“The company was liquidated in 2007.” As far as most of the world was concerned, that ended the Yukos Affair. But Bruce Misamore was still outraged at what Vladimir Putin had done to his friend and his company, and he wasn't about to stop fighting. Putin’s Oil Heist is an insider’s account of the Yukos Affair. In this episode, host Loren Steffy details Misamore’s efforts to salvage what he could of Yukos, with first-person accounts...

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Episode 6: Connecting the Dots

July 6, 2022 • 16 mins

“I believe that Yukos was Putin’s first foray into trying to test the West… and the West fell flat on their faces - they did absolutely nothing to help the Western shareholders in Yukos.” The lack of response from the West during the Yukos Affair encouraged Putin’s tyranny. Putin’s Oil Heist is an insider’s account of the Yukos Affair. In this final episode, Loren Steffy draws a line from the 2022 invasion of Ukraine back to the ex...

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