What is Yuri Milner thinking? That’s the question I posed last week to Milner’s spokesman, after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and then again on Monday, after Western governments responded with crippling sanctions. Milner, after all, is easily among Silicon Valley’s most prominent Russians, having made billions of dollars as the force behind DST Global, the venture firm that placed historic bets on Facebook and Twitter, among other Bay Area landmarks. But it was Milner’s embattled friends that put him on my mind: The Russian provenance of DST’s early capital was supplied in large part by Alisher Usmanov, a Russian oligarch who made his fortune in metal and mining before teaming up with Milner in 2008.
Try Puck for free
Sign up today to join the inside conversation at the nexus of Wall Street, Washington, A.I., Hollywood, and more.
Already a member? Log In
- Daily articles and breaking news
- Personal emails directly from our authors
- Gift subscriber-only stories to friends & family
- Unlimited access to archives
- Exclusive bonus days of select newsletters
- Exclusive access to Puck merch
- Early bird access to new editorial and product features
- Invitations to private conference calls with Puck authors
Exclusive to Inner Circle only
Latest Articles from A.I.
Sam Altman’s Mad Men Era
Claude Code & Theory
A.I. Brainiacs
10 Bold Predictions for A.I.’s Year Ahead
Grok, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels
Is the A.I. “Frost” Coming in ’26?
Has Google Finally Eaten Sam Altman’s Lunch?
Get access to this story
Enter your email for a free preview of Puck’s full offering, including exclusive articles, private emails from authors, and more.
Latest Articles from A.I.
He Said, Xi Said
Adobe Is Partnering With Runway A.I.
How Iger Learned to Love A.I.
Trump’s A.I. War on States’ Rights
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective A.I.s
Make It Brain
Sin City’s A.I. Evangelists
You have 1 free article Left
To read this full story and more, start your 14 day free trial today →
Already a member? Log In
Get access to this story
Enter your email to get access to one article and free previews of our private emails from Puck authors and editors.
Already a Member? Sign in
Latest Articles from A.I.
Trump’s A.I. Moon Landing
How A.I. Broke the Sound Barrier
The Kingdom & The Power
Hollywood’s A.I. Doppelgänger Hunters
A.I. Goes Nuclear!
The A.I. Underground