It collapsed because Communism doesn’t work. Attempting to turn fantasy into reality just doesn’t work.
Online, there’s a Josef Stalin fan club! (Mostly older Russian women...)
Communism doesn't work and our latest version of crony/corporate capitalism isn't working either.
What happened is that the Soviet Union heavily subsidized many areas of the country that were not really economically viable, especially in industries associated with producing weapons.
Once the Soviet Union collapsed, those areas became neglected, so it stands to reason the people living in those areas would be nostalgic for Soviet times.
Is it much different than in our Rust Belt, when all of the steel factories shuttered?
The same survey center last month showed that only 6% of Russians identify as definitely socialists—with another 12% somewhat so.
https://www.levada.ru/en/2021/10/20/democracy-socialism-and-market-reforms/
Indeed the media and democrats fail to grasp why it fails.