Wasn't the preexisting power structure the Soviet military? I thought that that Soviet generals stationed near large and valuable resources simply decided that these large and valuable resources had become their private property. Organized crimes and powerful politicians filled in the gaps.
No, none of the oligarchs were generals. They were usually entrepreneurs (Russia always had them, openly under Perestroika) who were well connected with one or more of
* The state apparatus
* The gray/black economy (or the criminal underworld)
* Foreign interests
The Soviet military was tightly politically controlled, they were well aware of the dangers of popular generals.
