What does the Russian Mafia consist of?

The Russian Mafia is characterized as a collection of various organized crime groups rather than a single dominant organization. This decentralized structure allows for a diverse range of groups, each with their own leadership and operational strategies, to exist under the broader umbrella of organized crime in Russia. These groups, often referred to as "bratva," engage in various illegal activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, extortion, and money laundering, and they may consist of regional factions and clans.

The nature of these groups means they operate independently and sometimes in competition with each other, adapting to changing political and economic environments. This complexity is a hallmark of the Russian organized crime landscape, where alliances can shift and new factions can emerge, reflecting a fluid and dynamic crime environment.