Discord in Kiev Plays to Russia's Favor

The dismissal of oligarch Igor Kolomoisky, the governor of Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, following a tense weekend standoff at the offices of Kiev's top energy companies highlights the government's difficulty reining in one of Ukraine's most powerful oligarchs. On March 25, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko dismissed Kolomoisky from his post after the oligarch offered his resignation during a meeting between the two leaders. Kolomoisky had sent armed men to the Kiev headquarters of the country's top oil transport and producing firms in an attempt to show his influence and dissuade government officials from trying to weaken his position in companies he has indirectly controlled for years. The decision to dismiss Kolomoisky indicates the Ukrainian government's willingness to hold oligarchs accountable. However, Poroshenko's decision to remove Kolomoisky from his post will lead to a more fragmented pro-Western coalition in Ukraine, because the influential Kolomoisky will seek to keep his influence and build his own power base. A weaker pro-Western alliance will struggle to step up integration with the West, ultimately serving the Kremlin's interests.