I can't speak for Russia as I have never been there, but I have been to Odessa three times, in 1997, 1999 and just now. The first two times it was bleak and there was a feeling of hopelessness and backwardness. But now I see that things have finally gotten much better- IF you have a better than average income.
My mother and father in law live in a depressing Soviet apartment complex, five floors up with no elevator, a (what would be in the West) tiny one bedroom apartment about 5-600 square feet. Now that their two daughters have moved out (!) it is reasonably livable. I have no idea how my mother-in-law can cook (and she DOES
) in a tiny kitchen about 80 square feet - with dining room table for up to six.
My brother and sister-in law are very well off. They have a very nice house even by Western standards in the 'burbs. But he is the head of a hospital and probably gets a lot of his income in the form of "favors". I took a few of them home with us (extra vodka and cognac).
Anyway, things are getting better- they have supermarkets like us- video superstores ("Best Buy" type) like us, reasonably free elections-things they didn't have seven years ago. I hope they don't backslide toward the Russian economic/political model.
Rick