The countries are mostly the same due to inertia and, frankly, there were no million excess deaths per year in USSR as there were throughout 90-s in Russia.
The inertia of lifestyle is such a massive thing, you cannot overturn it overnight, you cannot change it completely even in ten years.
During the USSR era you were able to travel freely. Even more freeer than today - you didn't even needed any passport to travel to huge distances, to Moscow or from it. You need one now.
Most of my childhood friends were children of Moscow newcomers. Their parents went to Moscow, got a job and then got an apartment to live there.
The inertia of lifestyle is such a massive thing, you cannot overturn it overnight, you cannot change it completely even in ten years.
During the USSR era you were able to travel freely. Even more freeer than today - you didn't even needed any passport to travel to huge distances, to Moscow or from it. You need one now.
Most of my childhood friends were children of Moscow newcomers. Their parents went to Moscow, got a job and then got an apartment to live there.