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To the untrained eye, especially in cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Russian economy appears stable. Western journalists report a veneer of normalcy where access to goods remains, albeit with fewer choices due to sanctions. Signs of daily life persist, with citizens not facing immediate issues like starvation.
In fact, certain regions of Siberia depict an exaggerated image of wealth, with individuals displaying newfound affluence from military recruitment incentives and high salaries aimed at sustaining Putin's war effort. This influx has created a superficial prosperity, likened to an individual who gains sudden wealth without understanding its true value.