There was a vivid example only last week of the way that Roman Abramovich has the power and money to shut down any who challenge him and his inextricable links to the Russian war machine.
I was researching his considerable shareholding in the Russian steelmaking giant Evraz - which he had quietly transferred between businesses, to protect himself against sanctions - and discovered from respected eastern European analysts that the firm's products were used to build Russian military tanks.
There was a 5.30am text from Abramovich's people with demands to 'please remove this' and a request to 'please call me'.