Russia is a capitalist country, it is perfectly capable of being included in the global market, but it is forbidden to so it must try to survive with the rest of rising powers + the second/third world countries as a matter of consequence. Its all part of an economical war that originate from the WW2, with the first cold war, then the de-escalation after USSR dissolution and the second cold war we have today (which could also include China and USA soon over south china conflicts, maybe China and Russia are going to be BFF before any solution appears ).
No it is not. I suggest you go there and see. There's practically nothing Russia produces, except raw materials and weapons developed during Soviet times that the rest of the world wants. Such excuses that they are the victims of an economical war, and that's why they have their situation is dangerous as fuck. The sanctions are a recent thing and a direct response to Ukraine crisis.
On paper it should be prospering and growing fast: 140 million people, incomparably vast resources. Decent education levels and little inner turmoil, with a lot of unity.
Two weeks in Russia for me, was enough to see glaring signs of why it's not so. Believe me when I say that having strong vertical structures in society. Where the powerful wield and will use any power they have to ruin your life. It's a system that produces and reproduces lies, corruption, scheming, to the point it becomes a part of everyday life, and a necessity to survive. The people that bubble to the top in such a system are the most scheming lying psychopaths imaginable. For a "good" person in such a society, the best you can do is try to stay invisible, and not come up with any good ideas, not do anything they can hang you for, for whatever reason they invent.
I don't blame the average Russian, I really don't. I blame the system that is geared and oiled for this abuse,
producing people, leaders and mentalities that carry this system on.
And now you think that the west is also a bit like this. Maybe yes, it's not perfect. But our problems are NOTHING compared to what they experience there. Seriously, if you are a Russian patriot, if you love Russia, standing by in silence watching this horror not getting fixed is the worst you can do.
It sounds like you have friends or family in Russia. Take a moment to think about their probably absurd problems, their struggles to get relatively simple things done, their stories of obscene power abuse. This is the reason they are backwards, that's there is little change or development, that it is not a dynamic society.