Part 5/9:
While the oligarchs amassed wealth and the mafia expanded their grip over society, the average Russian citizen struggled merely to survive. Hospitals went without medicines and teachers went unpaid for extended periods. Black markets became the lifeline for everyday needs, forcing families to resort to unforgiving choices, such as selling their possessions for food as hopeless conditions escalated. The psychological toll it took was grievous: alcoholism soared, suicides increased, and many men were lost to the workforce or simply vanished.