Kazan is probably a step up from Siberia. They have a lot of oil industry there, too. Really nice Russian city with an educated population, Ikea, etc. Close to Moscow, too. I find that part of Russia interesting. It’s a bit exotic with all the different ethnic groups and big cities you’ve never heard of.
I met a Russian roughneck in my travels and he showed me a video of his rig on his phone. It was a blinding snow storm and he said it was normal June weather. They don’t call it Siberia for nothing. Haha.
For sure Siberia is ruff, it’s for hiding out from society if one has legit papers and skills then an office job in Moscow is the place to be it’s a world class modern city on par with NYC, London or Paris I could be totally happy in Moscow.