Hint: No one is actually physically painting anything. That's a euphemism. The image you are giving about Russia's economic status is much worse than what is going on in reality. You're absolutely right when you say what matters is facts on the ground. But you're only interested in one side of the "truth" and shout down or label someone who comes up with information that you don't like. Russia is not experiencing "complete destruction of the economy" - not by a city mile. Things are certainly not good there, but its not like it was during the 1950s. As someone familiar with the culture and language, I'm stunned you believe that.
Russia already stopped production of its own cars or trucks. They are planning to resume production when they retool (and even that is a big question) to the 70s models, with no modern electronics in them. The main tank factory, for crying out loud, has sent its workers to a furlough for a months, stopping production (in the middle of a war!) - because they can't continue due to lack of spare parts. Russia has no means of getting the heavy industrial equipment for its factories, because they closed all that down in the 90s. Russia will soon (a couple of years) become another version of North Korea, wholly dependent on China, and isolated from the world. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of people.
Putin Will Collect a $321 Billion Windfall Partially Thanks to Sanctions Half-assed sanctions by the US and EU help drive up the cost of oil and natural gas. The oil producers, including Russia are the beneficiaries Big Windfall Bloomberg reports Putin May Collect $321 Billion Windfall If Oil and Gas Keep Flowing For all the hardships visited on consumers at home and the financial chokehold put on the government from abroad, Bloomberg Economics expects Russia will earn nearly $321 billion from energy exports this year, an increase of more than a third from 2021. It’s also on track for a record current-account surplus that the Institute of International Finance says may reach as high as $240 billion. “The single biggest driver of Russia’s current account surplus continues to look solid,” IIF economists led by Robin Brooks said in a report. “With current sanctions in place, substantial inflows of hard currency into Russia look set to continue.” The calculus may change completely, however, in case of an embargo on energy sales. And even without it, Russia’s oil exports and output are already falling, with the International Energy Agency predicting it may lose nearly a quarter of its crude production this month. U.S, EU to Hit Russian Investments With New Round of Sanctions Despite the fact that sanctions don't work, the US and EU keep trying. In a New Round of Sanctions U.S. will ban Russia investments and the EU proposes a ban on ships, trucks, and coal. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is proposing to ban most Russian ships and trucks from entering the bloc, as well as Russian coal imports. The EU will also push ahead with a debate on targeting Russian oil, she said -- a sensitive issue in Europe, where many countries are dependent on Russian fuel imports. Calculus Will Not Change The calculus will not change because the proposal is headed nowhere. All 27 nations in the EU would have to agree to cut the energy flow from Russia. And that's not going to happen for obvious reasons. (more after the link).
I read, extensively, sources from Russia. That is the picture I am getting. Even in agriculture, Russia has been relying hugely on Western sources both for equipment and for the genetic seeding supplies. The seeding stock of potatoes (basic staple in Russia) is almost completely Western. Without Western imported seed stock, you can still plant potatoes - from your own stock - but your harvest will be drastically less. Harvests, chicken, milk, meat production is projected to drop 30-50%. Russia will return to the 70s levels - where it could barely feed itself.
So now you hate all Russians, regardless of their feelings of the war? Maybe we should bring back internment camps?
If you read extensively, sources from Russia, do you just discount everything that says things aren't that bad as propaganda? I ask, because you've only posted an extreme one sided view of the situation, and since I know that to not be the case, I'm wondering how you don't.
Oh and, BTW, all Baltic republics and Poland have already closed their borders with Russia completely for traffic. ALL traffic. You don't need any EU decision, it's already been done. Look on the map - that seals Russia away from Europe.
What about Russians not living in Russia? I'm just guessing, because it sounded like you meant all Russians. And all of Russia isn't an internment camp, so either you're being snarky or you've never been there.
Happened today: The European Parliament just adopted an amendement for a full embargo on Russian oil and gas. Europe agrees to cut oil and gas immediatelly.