We have heard the words “oligarchy” and “oligarchs” recently as we watched, heard, or read the news about Russia’s terrible invasion of Ukraine. While Russia was tearing apart the country of Ukraine, the oligarchs of that nation were trying to shield their money and possessions from sanctions.
Oligarchy literally means “rule by the few.” An oligarch is someone who has enough money or power to have significant influence over a government. It is reported that Russia has about 35 oligarchs. Vladimir Putin himself is an oligarch. Many oligarchs are part of the 1 percent of the wealthiest people in the world. They have power and money.
The Russian oligarchs own businesses, stocks, real estate, etc. A characteristic of oligarchs in Russia especially is to own a super yacht. The Eclipse is the third largest pleasure ship in the world at 540 feet long and 70 feet wide, containing six decks with a swimming pool and helipad.
The smaller Dilbar is only 512 feet long (about a football field and a half), has berths for 130 people, about 30 crew members, two helipads, and an 82-foot pool. It reportedly is valued at $648 million. Putin’s super yacht is called the Graceful. It was in a repair yard in Hamburg, Germany, two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, but safely made it back to the Baltic port of Kaliningrad before the war started. It has the capability to fire missiles and carries a mini submarine.
To say the oligarchs are filthy rich would be an understatement. There are 56 super yachts owned by about a dozen Russian oligarchs. One owns a 209-foot jet that can seat 300. All the oligarchs apparently own a yacht that is at least 79 feet long. This elite group feels they are being treated unfairly after sanctions were imposed against them.
In his State of the Union address, President Biden said, “To the Russian oligarchs and the corrupt leaders who bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime: No more. We are joining with our European allies to find and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains.”
There will no doubt be long and difficult legal battles over the sanctions. But now, these super yachts cannot stay on the seas for long. They will need fuel, food, and supplies. If they find harbor in a non-Russian port, their ships can be seized.
Anyone who has enormous amounts of money like the oligarchs has significant influence and power. But do they use some of it to help those less fortunate? Greed corrupts and destroys. Remember the parable Jesus gave in Luke 12 about the rich man who had an overwhelmingly productive season with his crops? He did not ask, “What can I do to serve God and help people?” Instead, he said, “I have no place to store my crops.” So, he tore down his barns and built bigger barns to hold his crops. Then he said, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?” The point is driven home with powerful accuracy in verse 21: “So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
When the mask is pulled away, Putin and his Communist government are nothing more than lost atheists and materialists. Communism and Socialism do not build strong middle classes. They harm people and produce at the top of the order a group of rich, spiritually blind vipers.
First Timothy 5:24-25 says, “The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. Likewise, also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.”
We should pray for the Ukrainian people and for peace. Hopefully, Putin and his oligarchs can be dethroned soon. We should not be deceived by wealthy people who are devoid of life in Christ. Someday all the atrocities and injustices will be made right — when Jesus comes back to this earth. Perhaps we could pray like John did on the Isle of Patmos in Revelation 22:20: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”