Television Reports showed soldiers begging in the streets of Moscow. While the top officials are doing alright like in old days, the rank and file of soldiers are worse off today than ten years ago. The rest of the population is not fairing better either. Although promises of western investments have been made umpteen times, no news factories or plants are being built. Money from the west comes in and goes out either to pay debt or for some other shady transaction.
Most people go without regular wages.
Population growth is also declining due to falling birth rates.