Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian organized crime flourished. Russian industry fell into the hands of corrupt oligarchs who worked with organized criminals to secure their hold on nearly every aspect of the Russian state. President Vladimir Putin has worked to reassert central control over a stronger Russian state, but he realizes that eradicating organized crime is impossible. During the 1990s, organized crime expanded into all sectors of the Russian economy, government and society, sustaining Russia at first but eventually threatening the sovereignty of the state. Russian President Vladimir Putin — eager to consolidate power and resources under his own control — has reined in some aspects of Russian organized crime and has weakened the influence of the oligarchs. However, considering Russia's historical dependence on organized crime and its recent proliferation throughout the world, organized crime will remain a fixture in Russian society for some time to come.